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To alleviate mounting financial pressure on businesses grappling with elevated lending rates, Bangladesh Bank has rolled out a BDT 62,000 crore stimulus package aimed at providing low-cost financing to entrepreneurs, Central Bank Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman announced on Friday.
"Bank lending rates currently hover between 12 and 14 percent. Sustaining and expanding business operations under such high interest rates poses a formidable hurdle for entrepreneurs," the Governor remarked. "To help businesses navigate these headwinds, we have designed affordable financing mechanisms across various tailored stimulus windows."
Governor Rahman made the remarks as the chief guest during an exchange-of-views meeting on implementing the stimulus facilities to revitalize the private sector, hosted at the Primary Teachers' Training Institute (PTI) auditorium at Bheripara intersection in Rajshahi. The gathering drew senior regional administration officials—including the Divisional Commissioner and District Commissioner of Rajshahi—alongside trade body leaders, commercial bankers, and entrepreneurs. The session was presided over by Muhammad Badiuzzaman Didar, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank's Rajshahi Office.
Highlighting youth empowerment, the Governor outlined a dedicated national initiative titled "Uddog" (Enterprise), designed to channel youth momentum into productive economic ventures. Under the scheme, 10 aspiring youths will be selected from each upazila nationwide to cultivate 5,000 new entrepreneurs. Currently in its pilot phase, the project is scheduled for nationwide rollout this November.
Addressing the agricultural sector, Governor Rahman noted that collateral requirements under the central bank's BDT 10,000 crore refinance scheme have been eased, permitting alternative collateral structures in place of traditional land deeds to ensure smallholders and marginal farmers benefit directly. Furthermore, he expressed optimism that a separate BDT 3,000 crore refinancing fund will strengthen northern Bangladesh's agricultural value chain—spanning farm production, cold storage, processing, marketing, and exports.
