Dhaka:Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) has disbursed Taka 2,500 crore to 101 partner organizations under its Special Fund for Creating Entrepreneurs in the Cottage and Micro Sectors (SOPAN) programme, benefiting approximately 50,000 small entrepreneurs nationwide.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 87 percent of the beneficiaries are women, highlighting the programme's role in promoting women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs have received loans amounting to Taka 1,416 crore, supported by a special incentive package from Bangladesh Bank.
PKSF received the first tranche of Taka 1,250 crore from Bangladesh Bank on September 7. The SOPAN programme distributes loans across all 64 districts through four major sub-sectors: technology-driven agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, services, and value chain financing.
The programme aims to create new entrepreneurs, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, and expand existing microenterprises. It also focuses on promoting production, processing, and marketing activities, generating employment, and strengthening the rural economy. Special emphasis is placed on economically empowering women and young entrepreneurs and expanding business activities linked to microenterprise value chains.
To support the initiative, Bangladesh Bank allocated a Tk 5,000 crore incentive package for PKSF. To date, PKSF has received Tk 3,750 crore in three tranches, with the remaining amount expected by December. The complete fund is scheduled for disbursement to grassroots entrepreneurs by January 2027.
PKSF has implemented an advanced digital monitoring system under the programme to ensure transparency, maintain loan quality, and enhance supervision. This system collects and stores daily member-level information on loan disbursement and employment generation, allowing for regular monitoring of programme implementation and progress at the field level.