ADB, Bangladesh Bank jointly host awareness programme in Panchagarh

Regional Awareness Programme at Panchgarh under Supporting Post-COVID-19 Small Scale Employment Creation Project, jointly organised by the Asian Development Bank and Bangladesh Bank, was held on 15 December 2024 Panchgarh.

Mr Mojibur Rahman, Project Director and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank's SPCSSECP, was the chief guest at the event. Mr Arun Kumar Chowdhury, managing director of Karmasangsthan Bank, and Mr Alhaj Md. Sharif Hossain, President of the Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were special guests. Bangladesh Bank SPCSSECP Director Mr. Kazi Tamanna Haque presided over the meeting.

At the beginning of the programme, Ms Rojina Akter Mustafi, Additional Director and Deputy Project Director of Bangladesh Bank, gave a keynote presentation on SPCSSECP. Later, Mr. Ali Sabet gave a speech on the TA component of SPCSSECP.

The Chief Guest got to know the details from the entrepreneurs about the loans provided under SPCSSECP and answered their various queries. Meanwhile, he advised customers to contact the Bangladesh Bank hotline with any complaints or suggestions. The Managing Director of Karmasangsthan Bank held an open discussion with the entrepreneurs participating in the meeting, informed them about the various benefits/disadvantages of the program, and provided appropriate advice. He mentioned that among all the programs of the Karmasangsthan Bank, where 36% of the total borrowers are women, the percentage of women in the SPCSSECP program is 44%. Meanwhile, he thanked the donors, including Bangladesh Bank, for selecting the Karmasangsthan Bank as PFI. He also mentioned that the Karmasangsthan Bank works on environment-friendly banking and green financing to reduce carbon emissions, alleviate poverty and unemployment, and implement Three Zero.

Mr Moshiur Rahman, Deputy General Manager of the Loan and Advance Department of Karmasangsthan Bank, 10 officers and 20 entrepreneurs of the Panchagarh branch, as well as officials and entrepreneurs of various institutions, including Probasi Kalyan Bank, Bank Asia Plc, BRAC Bank Plc, Mercantile Bank Plc, and IDLC Finance, participated in this program throughout the day.