BRAC Bank is expanding support for women entrepreneurs through TARA, its women's banking segment, by providing finance, training, mentorship, digital skills, networking, and customer access.
According to the press release, the initiatives aim to help women build strong business foundations, overcome challenges, and pursue new opportunities.
As part of its values-based banking approach, BRAC Bank combines financial and non-financial support to equip women entrepreneurs with the tools, connections, and confidence needed to start and expand their businesses.
TARA's flagship accelerator programme, Uddokta 101, equips women entrepreneurs with business management, financial literacy and market-readiness skills.
The three-month programme combines business education, mentorship, case studies, interactive learning, and trade fairs, aiming to strengthen participants' operational capabilities and familiarity with formal financial services.
Launched in 2021, the programme has trained 1,000 women entrepreneurs through partnerships with the University of Dhaka, BRAC University, East West University, Daffodil International University, and Chittagong Independent University.
Amrai TARA delivers intensive three-day regional workshops for women-owned small and medium enterprises, covering business and financial management, documentation, branding, marketing, and financial and digital operations.
More than 1,200 women-owned enterprises receive training annually, and over four years the initiative has reached 40 of Bangladesh's 64 districts, covering rural, semi-urban, and urban areas.
UddogTARA provides expert-led training in social media management, strategic marketing, digital marketing applications, artificial intelligence (AI) tools and digital platforms.
Since 2024, the initiative has trained 300 women-owned small and medium enterprises in advanced digital literacy, AI, and digital marketing, helping them navigate online commerce.
The annual three-day TARA Uddokta Mela promotes locally made products during the peak Eid shopping season.
Across four editions, 400 women entrepreneurs have showcased their products through free stalls, gaining visibility, engaging with customers, and exploring sales opportunities. The fair also highlights local innovation and Bangladesh's cultural heritage.
The UddogTARA Market Enlistment Programme, held quarterly at BRAC Bank's head office, invites women entrepreneurs to showcase their products to bank employees.
Together, the programme and TARA Uddokta Mela generate more than Tk4.5 crore in annual sales and Tk70 lakh in pre-orders, the bank said.
Through its network of 195 branches, BRAC Bank provides training in banking services and financial literacy to nearly 2,000 women entrepreneurs annually.
By combining finance, business skills, and market access, these initiatives aim to meet women entrepreneurs' evolving needs as they establish and grow their enterprises.
Syed Abdul Momen, additional managing director and head of SME banking at BRAC Bank, said, "Women's entrepreneurship deserves to be recognised as an economic opportunity. When women build successful businesses, they create livelihoods, support their families and contribute to local economies. As a bank, we must recognise that potential and help ensure ambition is matched by opportunity. We want more women to build enterprises that endure and have a stronger voice in Bangladesh's economic future."