NRBC Bank empowers women entrepreneurs in Gaibandha's char areas with loans

NRBC Bank is providing financial services to develop the lifestyle of disadvantaged and lagging behind communities in chars and haor areas.

In particular, The Bank is providing loan support to women without collateral to help them become entrepreneurs. On 14 December 2024 in Gaibandha, 20 female small entrepreneurs were handed cheques for loans at a loan disbursement ceremony organised by Care Bangladesh. Mrs. Husne Ara Shikha, Spokesperson & Executive director of Bangladesh Bank; Mr. Rabiul Islam, Managing Director and  CEO (CC) of NRBC Bank; NRBC Bank's DMD Harunur Rashid, Bangladesh Bank Joint Director Nisat Afrroz Binni, Micro Finance Unit Head of NRBC Bank Md. Ramjan Ali Bhuyan and Acting Chief of Party SHOUHARDO III Plus, CARE Bangladesh's Mannan Majumder were at the ceremony. Global NGO CARE Bangladesh organised this event to inform about the progress of financial inclusion activities in rural areas and to distribute loans under the SHOUHARDO III Plus activity publicly.

NRBC Bank provided loans of Tk 50,000 each to 20 women entrepreneurs with only a 7 percent interest rate without collateral. The interest rate on these loans is only 7 percent. The borrowers are Kohinur Begum, Munni Begum, Mrs Shamsunnahar, Rikta Begum, Dilufa Begum, Mrs. Nurunnahar, Shahana Begum, Zaheda Begum, Buli Begum, Josna Begum, Mrs. Shahana Begum, Jannatun Begum, Pratima Rani, Moyna Begum, Mithi Akhter, Anjuara Begum, Mrs. Nurunnahar, Shapla Begum, Mariam Khatun and Monowara Begum.

Mrs Husne Ara Shikha, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, stated that by 2026, everyone in the country must be brought under the financial services umbrella according to national policy guidelines. Bangladesh Bank is working towards this goal, providing the opportunity to open accounts for only 10 taka without any complexity, and nearly one crore accounts have been opened. The commendable program of distributing small loans without collateral in rural areas is being praised. NRBC Bank is working on developing a rural-centric management of people in the local areas.

The bank's resources are being utilized for the development of villages and the advancement of women. All banks have the opportunity to distribute loans from these resources. It is necessary to involve people in economic inclusion initiatives at the local level.

She also said that prominent industrialists are not repaying loans worth thousands of crores of taka to banks, but women do not tend to default. Women should be developed as entrepreneurs to sustain the country's economy. The economic capacity of marginalized people will increase the country's capacity. Therefore, everyone should come forward to bring marginalised people, including women, under the ambit of financial inclusion activities.

Mr Rabiul Islam, MD and CEO of NRBC Bank stated that the bank works for the welfare of poor people in rural areas. All banking services are provided by simply opening an account for only 10 taka. Small-interest loans are provided without collateral to create employment opportunities for rural people. NRBC Bank has already provided loans to one lakh small entrepreneurs nationwide. The bank is reaching out to service-seekers in every household with banking services.

Mr Harunur Rashid, DMD of NRBC Bank, Said that NRBC Bank has provided collateral-free loans to 138,000 small entrepreneurs across the country. We serve the marginal level of people in the country for social development from the perspective of our national interest.  

Acting chief of Party, SHOUHARDO III Plus, CARE Bangladesh's Mannan Majumder said that women's economic capacity must be enhanced to develop villages. Simplifying financial access and inclusion is essential. Banks need to be more village-centric to uplift middle-income Bangladesh. NRBC Bank's economic inclusion activities contribute to savings and income-generating activities for rural people.

In the event, it was informed that NRBC Bank is bringing the poor people of the country's remote Haor and Char areas under banking services under the financial inclusion programme. These regions' poor and underprivileged people can open an account for just 10 Taka. Savings and loan facilities are being offered in these accounts at no cost. Already, 3502 small entrepreneurs have taken Tk loans. 110 crores.

It is noteworthy that a day-long Loan Disbursement Ceremony, Unlocking Financial Inclusion through Collaboration among Communities, Commercial Banks, and the Central Bank of Bangladesh Programme, was organised in Gaibandha for the beneficiaries of CARE Bangladesh's SHOUHARDO III Plus Project.