Women entrepreneurs to get plots at BSCIC industrial estates: Industries minister

Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Saturday said that plots would be allocated among the women entrepreneurs on priority basis at the district-level BSCIC industrial estates, reports BSS.

He also said that those plots would be allocated as per the recommendations of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI).

The minister also revealed that a ‘Product display and sales centre’ would be set up centrally at Purbachal, Dhaka for exhibiting and selling the women entrepreneurs’ products.

The industries minister said this while addressing the “BWCCI Progressive Award 2017-2018” programme as chief guest held at the conference room of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital, said a press release.

Chaired by BWCCI president Selima Ahmad, MP, country director of ADB Manmohan Parkash, Bangladesh Bank deputy governor SM Moniruzzaman, Eastern Bank Ltd managing director Ali Reza Iftekhar and Agrani Bank Ltd managing director Mohammad Shams-ul-Islam also spoke, among others, on the occasion.

The women entrepreneurs at the function demanded allocation of stalls free of cost for them in various fairs organised by the SME Foundation. They also demanded distribution of credit among the young female entrepreneurs from the Tk 1 billion ‘Start up Fund’ which was included in the current budget.

Besides, they also demanded for extension of the training facilities for the female entrepreneurs at the rural-level.

They drew the attention of the banks and financial institutions for distributing up to Tk 2.5 million collateral-free loans among the female entrepreneurs as per the circular of the Bangladesh Bank.

The minister handed over the BWCCI Progressive Award 2017-2018 to 10 female entrepreneurs.

Besides, Imtiaz Ahmed Sohel of Shomoy Television was given award under electronic media category while Mansura Hossain of Prothom Alo under print media category.