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BRAC Bank has formed a partnership with the SME Foundation to provide accessible, affordable financing to grassroots cottage, micro and small enterprises, with a particular focus on women-led businesses and manufacturing enterprises.
Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, Managing Director & CEO of BRAC Bank, and Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Managing Director of SME Foundation, signed the agreement in Dhaka on April 9, 2026. Syed Abdul Momen, Additional Managing Director & Head of SME Banking of BRAC Bank, was also present.
This collaboration aims to accelerate inclusive and sustainable economic growth by improving access to finance for underserved SME entrepreneurs across the country.
Under its revolving fund credit wholesaling programme, SME Foundation will channel Tk 300 crore through banks and financial institutions, offering loans ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 25 lakh. BRAC Bank will disburse Tk 40 crore from this fund to support eligible enterprises without any collateral.
Entrepreneurs will benefit from concessional financing at an interest rate of 8%, with priority given to manufacturing units, cluster-based businesses, and women-led enterprises nationwide.
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Minister for Industries, Commerce, and Textiles and Jute, attended the event as the chief guest. Md Obaidur Rahman, Chairman of the SME Foundation and Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, presided over the signing ceremony for the agreement. Nurun Nahar, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, and senior officials from the participating banks and financial institutions were also present.
Commenting on the partnership, Tareq Refat Ullah Khan said: “Our longstanding collaboration with SME Foundation reflects a shared commitment to empowering grassroots entrepreneurs. This revolving fund initiative enables us to scale up financing with greater reach and impact. By supporting small businesses - particularly women-led and manufacturing enterprises - we are nurturing entrepreneurship, generating employment, and contributing to sustainable economic growth.”
BRAC Bank is strongly committed to strengthening partnerships and developing innovative financing solutions to expand access to credit for small businesses across Bangladesh.
