BRAHMANBARIA Correspondent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bashundhara Foundation has distributed interest- and service charge-free microloans among 426 poor women in Brahmanbaria\u2019s Bancharampur upazila to help them engage in income-generating activities and become financially self-reliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A total of Tk 8 million was distributed at the 84th microloan disbursement ceremony held at the Jagannathpur Modern Auditorium in Bancharampur on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Al Emran Khan and Bashundhara Group Adviser Moynal Hossain Chowdhury handed over the loan money to the beneficiaries at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bashundhara Foundation has been operating its interest- and service charge-free microcredit programme in Bancharampur since 2005. The initiative has subsequently been expanded to neighbouring Nabinagar upazila and Homna upazila of Cumilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the speakers at the programme, around 31,000 poor women from 101 villages across the three upazilas have benefited from the loan programme over the past 21 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several beneficiaries said they were using the loans for income-generating activities such as poultry and livestock farming, agriculture and small businesses. They said the initiative had helped increase household income while also creating financial independence for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kulsuma, a resident of Durgarampur village, said she had previously taken loans from the Bashundhara Foundation three times and invested the money in raising ducks, chickens and goats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEach time I made a profit, but the money was later spent on my daughter\u2019s marriage and my son\u2019s education. This time, I have taken a loan for the fourth time and want to invest it again in an income-generating activity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parvin Akter of Asadnagar village said she had been receiving interest-free loans from the foundation for several years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI started with a loan of Tk 5,000. This time I have received Tk 20,000. I use the money for farming and poultry rearing and contribute financially to my family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momena Akter of Paratali village, who has received a loan for the fifth time, said she had been able to increase her family\u2019s income by investing the money in cattle and goat rearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another beneficiary, Halima of Asadnagar village, said she invested her loan in her husband\u2019s auto-rickshaw repair shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are gradually expanding the business with the profits from the shop. It has brought financial relief to our family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at the event, UNO Md Al Emran Khan said high-interest loans often make the cycle of poverty more complicated for low-income people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany families face financial hardship while struggling to repay loans. In this situation, the Bashundhara Foundation\u2019s interest-free loan programme is giving poor people an opportunity to become self-reliant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the loan programme includes a three-month grace period, allowing beneficiaries to invest the money in income-generating activities before having to begin repayment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis gives them an opportunity to start businesses or other economic activities without immediate repayment pressure,\u201d the UNO said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bashundhara Group Adviser Moynal Hossain Chowdhury said the foundation\u2019s initiative of providing microloans without interest or service charges was an example of a humanitarian effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor more than two decades, this programme has given nearly 31,000 women in three upazilas an opportunity to become financially self-reliant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He urged the beneficiaries to use the loan money only for lawful and income-generating purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThrough small-scale enterprises, establish yourselves financially and stand by your families,\u201d he told the loan recipients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local residents said the Bashundhara Foundation\u2019s social initiatives, along with its interest- and service charge-free microloan programme, were making a positive impact on poor communities in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They said many women had received vocational training and sewing machines, while students had also received support for their education from the Bashundhara Group. Such initiatives, they added, had helped many families recover financially and improve their livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The programme was moderated by Md Chan Mia Sarker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bashundhara Foundation DGM Maimun Kabir, Deputy Manager Mosharraf Hossain, Shuvosangho Director Zakaria Zaman and other officials and local representatives were also present at the event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BRAHMANBARIA Correspondent: The Bashundhara Foundation has distributed interest- and service charge-free microloans among 426 poor women in Brahmanbaria\u2019s Bancharampur upazila to help them engage in income-generating activities and become financially self-reliant. A total of Tk 8 million was distributed at the 84th microloan disbursement ceremony held at the Jagannathpur Modern Auditorium in Bancharampur on Monday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n