BRAC Bank has signed an agreement with the SME Foundation to strengthen financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs and boost the country’s production sector. The signing ceremony took place in Dhaka, where BRAC Bank Managing Director and CEO Tarek Refaet Ullah Khan and SME Foundation Managing Director Anwar Hossain Chowdhury signed the deal in the presence of senior officials from related sectors.

Under the agreement, Tk 300 crore will be distributed nationwide through banks and financial institutions from the SME Foundation’s revolving fund. BRAC Bank will provide Tk 40 crore in collateral-free loans. Entrepreneurs can borrow between Tk 1 lakh and Tk 25 lakh at an 8 percent interest rate. The program will prioritize women-led enterprises, manufacturing sectors, and cluster-based businesses.

Officials stated that the initiative aims to expand financing opportunities for marginal and small entrepreneurs, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The event was attended by the Minister of Industries, Commerce, and Textiles Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, SME Foundation Chairman and Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman, and Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar.