UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh Bank has announced a new scheme for micro women entrepreneurs under which each branch of all commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) will have to provide minimum Tk 50,000 as loan to at least a woman entrepreneur a year.
“We’ll be able to create nearly 10,000 women entrepreneurs every year if the initiative continues,” said Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman while sharing views with women entrepreneurs in Cox’s Bazar on Friday.
The country’s banks and NBFIs currently have a total of 9,228 branches across the country. So, it is assumed that a huge number of micro-level female entrepreneurs will get this loan across the country.
The BB Governor said the new loan scheme will run in addition the ongoing programmes under which small and medium level women entrepreneurs can avail of bank loan.
He also asked the banks and NBFIs to expedite the implementation of ongoing financial inclusion programmes across the country through strengthening financing in SME entrepreneurs, particularly the women.
With the initiative, the central bank chief hoped, the small women entrepreneurs will be turned into middle ones gradually.
Dr Atiur said, “The central bank has only not created separate units at banks, managed by women officials for women entrepreneurship development, but also directed all the banks and NBFIs to have similar units.”
“Besides, the central bank of Bangladesh has taken special policy measures and opened refinance windows to facilitate development of women empowerment in various sectors,” he added.
Describing various initiatives, taken by the central bank in the last five years, the Governor said: “We want women empowerment for achieving balanced and gender-friendly economic growth in Bangladesh.”
He also said our female entrepreneurs have already earned fame which has also been lauded by a British Member of Parliament recently. “If we’re able to sustain the progress of women empowerment, then we’ll be recognized by the whole world,” the BB governor noted.
Executive Directors of the central bank M Mahfuzur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Jodder and Nirmal Chandra Bhakta, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Nearly 1,000 women entrepreneurs, senior officials and executives of all commercial banks took part in the conference in the beach city of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bank has announced a new scheme for micro women entrepreneurs under which each branch of all commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) will have to provide minimum Tk 50,000 as loan to at least a woman entrepreneur a year.
“We’ll be able to create nearly 10,000 women entrepreneurs every year if the initiative continues,” said Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman while sharing views with women entrepreneurs in Cox’s Bazar on Friday.
The country’s banks and NBFIs currently have a total of 9,228 branches across the country. So, it is assumed that a huge number of micro-level female entrepreneurs will get this loan across the country.
The BB Governor said the new loan scheme will run in addition the ongoing programmes under which small and medium level women entrepreneurs can avail of bank loan.
He also asked the banks and NBFIs to expedite the implementation of ongoing financial inclusion programmes across the country through strengthening financing in SME entrepreneurs, particularly the women.
With the initiative, the central bank chief hoped, the small women entrepreneurs will be turned into middle ones gradually.
Dr Atiur said, “The central bank has only not created separate units at banks, managed by women officials for women entrepreneurship development, but also directed all the banks and NBFIs to have similar units.”
“Besides, the central bank of Bangladesh has taken special policy measures and opened refinance windows to facilitate development of women empowerment in various sectors,” he added.
Describing various initiatives, taken by the central bank in the last five years, the Governor said: “We want women empowerment for achieving balanced and gender-friendly economic growth in Bangladesh.”
He also said our female entrepreneurs have already earned fame which has also been lauded by a British Member of Parliament recently. “If we’re able to sustain the progress of women empowerment, then we’ll be recognized by the whole world,” the BB governor noted.
Executive Directors of the central bank M Mahfuzur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Jodder and Nirmal Chandra Bhakta, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Nearly 1,000 women entrepreneurs, senior officials and executives of all commercial banks took part in the conference in the beach city of Bangladesh.
