Pabna:Bangladesh Bank (BB) has distributed sanction letters and cheques amounting to Tk 2.70 crore among 27 agriculture and small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in Pabna. This distribution, under BB's refinancing schemes, aims to ensure food security, create employment, and promote agriculture-based economic development.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the assistance was distributed at a town hall meeting held at the Pabna District Shilpakala Academy. The event aimed to promote the effective implementation of two refinancing schemes a Tk 10,000 crore scheme for ensuring national food security and generating employment, and a Tk 3,000 crore scheme to establish an agriculture-based regional hub in northern Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Md Habibur Rahman attended the meeting as the chief guest. Other notable attendees included Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank Arief Hossain Khan, Executive Director of the central bank's Rajshahi Office Muhommad Badiuzzaman Dider, Additional District Magistrate of Pabna Liton Dhali, Deputy Managing Director of Agrani Bank PLC Mohammad Fazlul Karim, and Director of the Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md Harun-Ur-Rashid.
The meeting was presided over by Abu Sayed Md Idris, Deputy Managing Director of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC. The Pabna branches of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC and the regional office of Agrani Bank PLC coordinated the event as lead banks. Officials and managers of scheduled banks operating in Pabna were in attendance, along with more than 300 agriculture and SME entrepreneurs.
Representatives from various organizations, including the Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Livestock Services, Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Rural Development Board, and Department of Youth Development, were also present at the meeting.