ICE Center of DU to work as Entrepreneurship Support Cell for Bangladesh Bank

The Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center of University of Dhaka was launched on Wednesday to support 1,000 trainees of scheduled banks.

A memorandum of understanding in this connection was signed by the Project Implementation Unit, SEIP, SME and Special Programmes Department of the Bangladesh Bank and the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Center, said a press release.

ICE Center will support 1,000 trainees (25 in each and a total of 40 batches) under the entrepreneurship development program of scheduled banks. This MoU shall remain valid up to 31 December 2023.

The main objective of this MoU is to create a platform to facilitate and extend entrepreneurial support among the trainees and beneficiaries from the project SEIP (Tranche-III) and to provide an environment of innovation, creativity and collaboration.

The Bangladesh Bank believes the Entrepreneurship Support Cell (ESC) role is rightly fitted for the ICE Center as with its expertise and knowledge, the centre will be able to provide training and mentoring support to the trainees for their business development.

Dr Md Kabir Ahmed, executive director of Bangladesh Bank, said that the beneficiaries and the trainees of the project SEIP (Tranche-III) need follow-up and further assistance on their business conduct and mentorship support. He expects that ICE Center, DU is the right platform to provide post project facilities to the beneficiaries.

Md Nazrul Islam, chief project coordinator and additional director, SEIP (T-3), SMESPD, Bangladesh Bank; Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, vice chairman, ICE Center and supernumerary professor, University of Dhaka and Md. Jahid Iqbal, joint director and Focal Person-EDP, SMESPD, Bangladesh Bank, were also present at the launching ceremony.