Bangladesh Bank has announced a fresh scheme for mandatory lending to women entrepreneurs to expedite the financial inclusion process in Bangladesh's economic advances.
Under the initiative, all commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) will have to provide a minimum Tk 50,000 as loan to at least a woman entrepreneur per annum.
A total of 9228 branches of all banks and NBFIs will lend to the women entrepreneurs across the country. Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman declared the scheme while addressing an exchange-of-views meeting between bankers' and SME women entrepreneurs in Cox's Bazar Friday, according to a central bank statement.
"We'll be able to create nearly 10,000 women entrepreneurs every year if the initiative gets through," the BB governor noted.
He also asked the banks and NBFIs to accelerate the implementation of ongoing financial inclusion programmes across the country through strengthening financing SME entrepreneurs, women in particular.
The central bank chief hoped that under the recipe, the small women entrepreneurs would grow into middle-grade ones gradually.
He also noted that the central bank has not only created separate unit managed by women officials for women entrepreneurship development but also directed all banks and NBFIs to have similar units.
As a result, thousands of women entrepreneurs are having access to finance in different clusters, the governor added.
Describing various initiatives taken by the BB in the last five years, the governor said: "We want women empowerment for achieving balanced and gender-friendly economic growth in Bangladesh."
Dr Rahman also said women entrepreneurs had already earned fame that has also been lauded by a British Member of Parliament recently.
Rt Hon Caroline Spelman, an MP from Meriden Constituency in the West Midlands, the United Kingdom, mentioned a crowning success of mobile banking for garment workers in Bangladesh during a debate on the eve of the International Women's Day 2015 in the British Parliament on March 5.
"If we are able to sustain the progress in women empowerment, then we will be recognised by the whole of the world," Dr Rahman said on a note of optimism.
Besides, Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) has already awarded BB for its policy contribution towards reaching out to mass people's doorstep with mobile financial services, the governor added.
Among others, BB Executive Directors M Mahfuzur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Jodder and Nirmal Chandra Bhakta also 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. siddique.islam@gmail.com
Lending made mandatory for women entrepreneurs
FE Report | Published: March 29, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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