Press Release
18 October, 2026, 06:50 pm
Last modified: 18 October, 2026, 06:52 pm
NRBC Bank PLC has held a business review meeting in Bogura to expand financing for farmers and small entrepreneurs, assess the progress of refinancing schemes and strengthen the agriculture-based economy in northern Bangladesh.
Titled "NRBC Sufola and NRBC Goti: SME Refinance Business Penetration and Review Meeting", the programme took place on Thursday, 15 October, 2026, with Md Shaheen Howlader, deputy managing director and chief business officer of the bank, attending as the chief guest, according to the press release.
Other attendees included Md Ramjan Ali Bhuiyan, head of the SME-Agri Business Department; Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, head of CRMD-SME; Asim Kumar Das, head of the Rajshahi Zone; Himadri Shekhar Dube, head of the Rangpur Zone; and managers of branches and sub-branches.
Discussions focused on expanding access to refinancing facilities under NRBC Sufola and NRBC Goti, identifying business opportunities and ensuring that financing effectively reaches farmers and entrepreneurs.
The meeting highlighted three major Bangladesh Bank refinancing initiatives: a Tk10,000 crore scheme for the agriculture and rural sectors, a Tk5,000 crore working capital refinancing fund for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs), and a Tk3,000 crore special refinancing fund aimed at developing a specialised agriculture-based economic hub in northern Bangladesh.
Participants explored opportunities to expand financing for agricultural production, storage, transportation, marketing and processing of farm produce, particularly in the northern region. The initiatives are expected to support agricultural development, entrepreneurship and rural economic growth.
Speaking at the meeting, Shaheen Howlader said effective implementation of Bangladesh Bank's refinancing programmes could help increase agricultural production, improve the business capacity of small and medium entrepreneurs, generate employment and strengthen financial inclusion.
He emphasised the need to advance Bangladesh Bank's initiatives to create local employment through the development of agriculture and small businesses.
He also stressed the importance of selecting eligible borrowers, ensuring effective loan disbursement and strengthening loan recovery monitoring to maximise business opportunities while supporting farmers and entrepreneurs.