To help overcome the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and the SME Foundation have successfully disbursed Taka150 crore in low interest loans to 2,460 small and medium enterprises.
Media reports maintained this adding the loans disbursed are repayable at 4 per cent interest rate in two years even as it went on to underline that of the Taka 150 crore, the SME Foundation has disbursed Taka 100 crore amongst 1,044 entrepreneurs from different clusters, especially in rural areas, while adding further that of the loan recipients, at least 25 to 30 per cent are women, while on the other hand, the BSCIC has disbursed Taka 50 crore amongst 1,416 entrepreneurs, 72 per cent of whom are from Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions.
It may be mentioned here that Bangladesh Government on 17 January approved a special stimulus package to be disbursed through BSCIC, SME Foundation and selected NGOs, to help the sector stay afloat amidst the pandemic-induced crisis.
