Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman FCMA on Saturday said no lobbying or recommendation will be allowed in selecting entrepreneurs under the Tk 60,000-crore incentive package announced by the central bank.
“In the past, we saw influential people showing greater interest in such incentive packages. This time, no bureaucrat or banker will be involved in the final selection. A successful entrepreneur will select new entrepreneurs,” he said.
The governor was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion with stakeholders on implementing the Bangladesh Bank-announced incentive package for private-sector development at the Bangladesh Bank Rangpur office.
He said the central bank was working to make the entrepreneur selection process free from influence and transparent.
“Any recommendation for financing under the incentive package will be considered a disqualification for the entrepreneur,” he said, adding that the policy would be followed in financing entrepreneurs in every upazila.
He said the government had planned to engage young people in economic activities following the July mass uprising.
“Initially, we will provide loans to 5,000 new young entrepreneurs across the country under the incentive package,” he said.
The maximum loan amount will be Tk 20 lakh, he said, adding that applicants below 28 years of age with viable business ideas will be eligible.
Of the Tk 20 lakh, Tk 10 lakh will be provided as a bank loan and Tk 10 lakh as a grant, he said.
The governor said the government was working to promote industrial development in the northern region.
Under the incentive package, Tk 3,000 crore has been allocated for setting up agro-based industries, he said.
The maximum financing limit will be Tk 30 lakh for agricultural production, Tk 40 crore for storage, transportation, marketing and infrastructure, Tk 40 crore for agro-based production and processing, and Tk 15 crore for agricultural exports.
Besides, Tk 2,000 crore in special financing is being provided for the export-oriented frozen food sector.
The meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Bank Rangpur office Executive Director Md Salah Uddin.
Among others, Bangladesh Bank headquarters Additional Director Mohammad Salahuddin Topadar, Rangpur office Director AKM Kamruzzaman, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Emdadul Hossain, Women Chamber President Shahanaz Parvin Shaheen, Metropolitan Chamber Director Nazmul Alam Nazu, Nasik Plan and Pot proprietor Shahinur Islam, farmer Mahir Islam and business leaders from eight districts of Rangpur division attended the meeting.