Bangladesh Bank (BB) has halved banks' general provisioning requirement to 1 percent against their loans for brokerage firms, stock dealers, and merchant banks.

"It has been decided that banks will have to maintain a general provision of 1 percent on unclassified amounts for loans to Brokerage House, Merchant Banks and Stock Dealers," as per a BB circular issued on Thursday.

It would be effective from 30 March this year.