SMESPD Circular Letter No. 01: Establishment of Women Entrepreneur's Dedicated Desk/Help Desk

Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank of Bangladesh) Head Office Motijheel, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh. www.bb.org.bd

SME & Special Programs Department (Women Entrepreneur Development Unit)

SMESPD Circular Letter No. 01

Date: 11 June 2015 28 Joishtha 1422

Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer All Scheduled Banks and Non-Bank Financial Institutions of Bangladesh.

Regarding the Establishment of Women Entrepreneur’s Dedicated Desk/Help Desk.

Dear Sir,

Recently, during discussions with officials of some banks/non-bank financial institutions, it was learned that there is a misconception that Women Entrepreneur’s Dedicated Desk/Help Desk will be formed only with female officials, and due to a shortage of female officials, they are delaying the establishment of the said Dedicated Desk/Help Desk in all their branches. With the aim of clarifying this matter again, the relevant part of paragraph 2 of the "Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Credit Policy and Program" circulated by Bangladesh Bank in 2010 is quoted below:

"Every bank and financial institution shall mandatorily establish an independent 'Women Entrepreneur’s Dedicated Desk' and employ suitable manpower therefor to assist them in financing in the SME sector, provide necessary training, and as far as possible, employ 'female officials' as the head of the said 'Dedicated Desk'."

It is clearly understood from the said policy that male officials may be appointed to the Women Entrepreneur’s Dedicated Desk/Help Desk; however, the appointment of female officials must be considered on a priority basis. Therefore, in light of the said policy, you are requested to establish Women Entrepreneur’s Dedicated Desk/Help Desk in every branch of your institution without delay and inform this department.

Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

(Signature) (Swapan Kumar Roy) General Manager Phone: 9530502