BRAC Bank and participating banks have extended instant loan facilities to marginalised farmers and smallholder traders in Sirajganj under Bangladesh Bank’s refinancing scheme for Tk10/50/100 account holders.
Under the guidance of Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Inclusion Department, BRAC Bank, as the lead bank, organised an open loan programme to provide low-interest loans under the central bank’s Tk750 crore refinance scheme.
The programme was held at the Officers’ Club, Sirajganj, with the aim of raising awareness and bringing underserved communities into the formal financial system, reads a press release.
Officials and entrepreneurs from all 35 participating banks attended the event, where loans were publicly disbursed to marginal farmers and small entrepreneurs holding Tk10, Tk50 and Tk100 accounts.
Abeda Rahim, additional director of the Financial Inclusion Department of Bangladesh Bank, attended as chief guest and delivered her address.
Rokeya Sultana, joint director of the Financial Inclusion Department, Bangladesh Bank, and SM Alomgir Hossain, head of Cottage, Micro and Small Business Unit-1 of BRAC Bank, attended as special guests.
Sheikh Ahona Hakim, assistant director of the Financial Inclusion Department, Bangladesh Bank, outlined the purpose of the programme and highlighted the central bank’s broader initiatives under the refinance scheme for marginalised communities.
From BRAC Bank, Proshanta Kumar Saha, senior manager, Regulatory Relations and Stakeholder Management, SME Banking; Fazlul Karim, regional head, Network Distribution, North Bengal; Sanjoy Kumar Saha, branch manager, Sirajganj; and other senior officials were also present.
Two women entrepreneurs also shared their experiences, describing how access to formal credit had supported and transformed the course of their businesses.
The initiative reflects BRAC Bank PLC’s continued commitment to empowering rural communities, improving financial literacy, and advancing financial inclusion at the grassroots level in collaboration with Bangladesh Bank.
