Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) on Thursday described the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 as timely, realistic and inclusive, saying it has been designed to address current economic challenges and ensure sustainable development.

.The observation came at a "WEAB Budget Review Press Conference" held at Anchor Tower in the capital, where the organisation reviewed key aspects of the recently announced national budget, its potential impact, challenges and recommendations.

Speakers at the event said the budget sets clear economic targets, including achieving 6.5 percent economic growth and reducing inflation to 7.5 percent.

They noted that the budget places importance on creating new entrepreneurs, expanding small and medium enterprises (SMEs), strengthening social safety net programmes and building a foundation for long-term economic stability and sustainable development.

WEAB President Nasreen Fatema Awal said the budget has been formulated with the goal of building an inclusive, equitable and participatory economy, with special emphasis on increasing the economic participation of women, youth and marginalised groups.

She welcomed the allocation of Tk 400 crore in the information and communication technology sector for startup development, women entrepreneurs and youth entrepreneurship in the 2026-27 fiscal year, saying it would help enhance the capabilities of women entrepreneurs, expand businesses through technology and create new entrepreneurs.

Nasreen also positively viewed the government's announcement of a Tk 60,000 crore incentive package aimed at increasing investment and employment.

She said allocating a specific portion of the fund on easy terms for women-led SMEs, cottage industries, rural women entrepreneurs and new business ventures would further enhance women's contribution to the economy.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Office National Cell member and technical expert on the 25 crore tree plantation programme, Jamail Basir JB, said the government plans to establish 10,000 nurseries and create employment opportunities for 600,000 people under a five-year programme to plant 25 crore trees.

He said more than 400,000 of those jobs would be reserved for women, particularly from marginalised communities.

"We want organisations like WEAB to work with us because it is difficult for us alone to reach all these women," he said.

Jamail said rural women would be encouraged to establish small home nurseries with 50 to 100 saplings, which the programme would purchase from them, providing direct financial benefits. They would also be involved in tree plantation and maintenance activities, creating additional income opportunities.

He invited WEAB to join the programme and help connect women from marginalised communities with the initiative.

WEAB placed five recommendations before the government: ensuring effective implementation of separate quotas and easier collateral requirements for women entrepreneurs in bank loans and SME financing; launching special programmes at district and upazila levels to improve market access, e-commerce capabilities and product branding; expanding training on technology, digital marketing, export readiness and financial management; ensuring preferential participation of women entrepreneurs in public procurement; and reducing tax-related complexities and simplifying business registration procedures.

The organisation expressed confidence that if any gaps remain in the budget, the government would address them later through relevant ministries, departments and financial institutions by providing necessary policy and financial support.

The organisation also pledged to work in partnership with the government to ensure that millions of small women entrepreneurs can become more strongly integrated into the national economy.

During the question-and-answer session, Nasreen Fatema Awal said WEAB has regularly engaged with the central bank on issues affecting women entrepreneurs and would continue doing so.

She said many women entrepreneurs still face difficulties obtaining loans from banks, but in numerous cases WEAB's intervention has helped them secure financing after initial refusals.

"We believe Bangladesh Bank should directly engage with women entrepreneurs and organisations like WEAB when formulating policies for women. If we are informed, we can share that information with our members and help them benefit from those opportunities," she said.

She also highlighted the difficult job market, saying many women are increasingly turning to entrepreneurship as employment opportunities remain limited.

The WEAB president further said that while Bangladesh Bank has instructed commercial banks to increase lending to women entrepreneurs, effective monitoring of compliance remains inadequate.

"There should be proper follow-up to see how much financing is actually reaching women entrepreneurs," she said.

On lending rates, Nasreen argued that interest rates for women entrepreneurs should not exceed four percent if the goal is to help them become economically self-reliant.

Asked whether the proposed allocations are sufficient, she said many previous allocations intended for women entrepreneurs had remained underutilised and were eventually returned because authorities claimed they could not disburse the funds.

"We hope the government will ensure that funds allocated for women are fully utilised and not returned unused," she said.

She cited examples from haor regions where male labourers earn around Tk 1,250 a day while women receive only about Tk 500 for similar work.

Calling for greater attention to such disparities, she said women continue to face multiple barriers, including limited access to finance, social restrictions, family pressures and marketing challenges.

She also raised concerns about law and order, saying many women feel unsafe travelling or conducting business activities after evening hours, limiting their ability to participate fully in economic activities.

At the briefing, WEAB representatives also highlighted several budget priorities that they believe could have a positive impact on women entrepreneurs, including inclusive development, investment-led growth, employment generation, human resource development, startup financing, digital economy expansion, SME development and entrepreneurship support.

WEAB leaders, Executive Committee members and Female entrepreneurs were present at the press conference.