BRAC Bank wins 'Women in Business Champion Award' at ADB 2026
BRAC Bank PLC won the "Women in Business Champion Award" at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) 12th Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program Awards in Singapore on 8 September, 2026.
The international honour recognises the bank's efforts to expand women's economic participation by improving access to finance, strengthening entrepreneurial skills, and building a banking ecosystem that supports female-led enterprises, according to a press release.
The achievement reflects the contribution of BRAC Bank's specialised women's banking proposition, TARA, and its dedicated small and medium enterprise (SME) women entrepreneur cell headed by Khadija Mariam. Through customised credit solutions, advisory guidance, and capacity-building programmes, the team has helped female entrepreneurs overcome structural hurdles, formalise operations, and scale businesses to drive nationwide job creation.
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Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BRAC Bank, Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, said: "This recognition from ADB reinforces our belief that empowering women entrepreneurs is fundamental to building a more inclusive and resilient economy. Our colleagues have worked with deep commitment to understand the realities facing women-led businesses and create solutions that enable them to grow with confidence. We dedicate this achievement to the thousands of women entrepreneurs whose courage and ambition continue to inspire us."
On behalf of the lender, Senior HR Business Partner (Retail Banking and Treasury) Farhana Sharmin Sumi and Head of Unit-2 (Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking) Zakia Jalil received the accolade.
Senior officials from the multilateral lender – including Director and Head of the Gender Equality Division Keiko Nowcka; Director and Head of the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Division Steven Beck; and Unit Head for South Asia within the division Neha Noronha – attended the award ceremony, along with invited representatives.
The 12th annual awards brought together ADB's partner financial institutions across Asia and the Pacific to honour performance in regional trade and supply chain financing.
