Staff Reporter:
The Bashundhara Foundation has distributed Tk 3 million in interest-free loans among 168 underprivileged women in Banchharampur upazila of Brahmanbaria, without imposing any interest, service charges or collateral requirements.
The humanitarian initiative of Bashundhara Group, one of Bangladesh’s leading industrial conglomerates, has been playing a significant role in empowering rural women and promoting financial self-reliance for nearly two decades.
The 85th loan distribution programme was held at the premises of Akanagar Madrasa in the upazila. Bashundhara Group Adviser Moynal Hossain Chowdhury and Bashundhara Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) M Nasimul Haque attended the event as special guests.
The programme was conducted by Md. Chan Mia Sarker. Among others, Bashundhara Foundation DGM Maimun Kabir, Deputy Manager Mosharraf Hossain and local dignitaries were present.
The beneficiaries came from Banchharampur and Nabinagar upazilas. Each of the women supports a family, and the financial assistance is expected to help them overcome economic hardship and pursue income-generating activities.
Speaking at the event, Bashundhara Foundation CEO M Nasimul Haque said the interest-free loan initiative was helping financially disadvantaged women escape the burden of high-interest borrowing and become economically independent.
He urged the beneficiaries to invest the money in legitimate income-generating activities rather than using it for unlawful purposes.
Bashundhara Group Adviser Moynal Hossain Chowdhury said the group’s interest- and service charge-free loan programme had established a unique example of humanitarian service.
He added that Bashundhara Group was also supporting disadvantaged communities through educational scholarships, free medical services, skills training, sewing machine distribution and various other social welfare initiatives.
Several beneficiaries shared their plans for using the loans to improve their families’ financial conditions.
Shilpi Akter of Thollakandi village in Nabinagar said she wanted to use the money to improve her family’s economic situation. Marzina Akter of Barail village plans to support her husband’s agricultural activities with the loan.
Meanwhile, Geeta Rani of Akanagar village said she planned to purchase a cow, as she had done with assistance received previously, to increase her family’s income.
According to the foundation, the Tk 3 million was distributed among 168 beneficiaries in four phases.
In the first phase, 50 women received Tk 15,000 each, amounting to Tk 750,000. In the second phase, 22 women received Tk 15,000 each, totalling Tk 330,000.
In the third phase, 21 beneficiaries received Tk 20,000 each, amounting to Tk 420,000, while 75 women received Tk 20,000 each in the fourth phase, totalling Tk 1.5 million.
The initiative aims to strengthen rural women’s economic independence, encourage entrepreneurship and create sustainable income opportunities for disadvantaged families through accessible, interest-free financial assistance.
