Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur emphasized the importance of maintaining policy consistency in efforts to reduce inflation to a target range of 4-5 percent. Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Banker-Women Entrepreneur Conference and Product Showcasing Fair’ at the Bangla Academy premises, Mansur expressed optimism about the nation’s economic trajectory, noting the current decline in inflation rates.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mansur highlighted the recent progress in controlling inflation, pointing out that food inflation has decreased from a high of 14.5 percent to 8.5 percent, while non-food inflation has reduced from over 12.5 percent to slightly above 9 percent. He stressed that achieving a lower inflation rate is feasible with consistent policy efforts.
During the event, Mansur also addressed the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing financial services. He acknowledged that despite constitutional guarantees, women often encounter obstacles when seeking loans. He emphasized the need for societal change, advocating for increased financial inclusion and literacy among women, who currently receive only 6 percent of total loans in the banking sector.
Bangladesh Bank’s SME and Special Programmes Department organized the event to promote greater participation and financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in the CMSME sector. The conference was attended by notable figures including Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar, Executive Director Md Khasru Parvez, City Bank MD and CEO Mashrur Arefin, and Director Nawshad Mustafa.
The four-day fair, featuring 68 women entrepreneurs from various districts, aims to showcase their products and foster business opportunities. The event will conclude on 11 May, with six women entrepreneurs set to be honored on the final day.