The central bank has so far distributed an amount of Tk 773.33 crore among 9448 women entrepreneurs during the last one decade till May 31, 2014 under its SME refinance scheme, Bangladesh Bank data revealed the information. According to statistics released by the central bank on Wednesday, the total disbursement of the fund stood at Tk 1,998.47 crore till May last, of which 61 per cent was disbursed among male entrepreneurs while the rest (39 per cent) among the women entrepreneurs.
“Loan disbursement among women entrepreneurs under refinance scheme exceeded the target,” said Masum Patwary, general manager, SME and Special Programme Department adding that the bank is getting good responses.  
Bangladesh Bank introduced the SME refinance scheme in 2004 with a view to promoting the country’s SME entrepreneurs. Initially the central bank started the programme with an amount of Tk 100 crore. The central bank took up the initiative to train up entrepreneurs across the country in a bid to create awareness of the SME business among them.
The central bank also directed the financial institutions to disburse at least 15 per cent loan from the refinance fund among the women entrepreneurs, said the SME and Special Programme Department GM.
In the initial stage disbursement of loan among the women entrepreneurs was not satisfactory, said also Patwary adding that the situation had become changed by this time and women are now getting adequate funds.
In 2007, total disbursement of loan among the women entrepreneurs under the refinancing fund stood at Tk 0.09 crore which shot up to Tk 200.24 crore in 2013. According to Bangladesh Bank, the banks distributed Tk 4.2 crore in 2008, Tk 31.15 crore in 2009, Tk 116.01 crore in 2010, 
Tk 117.22 crore in 2011, Tk 185.58 crore in the year 2012. During the first months of current year, till May 31, 2014 the banks disbursed about Tk 68.84 crore among the women entrepreneurs.
“The involvement of women in various entrepreneurial activities can empower them in social, economic and cultural fields, which is essential for attaining sustainable economic growth,” said SME consultant of Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management Sukumal Sinha Chowdhry. Country’s half of the population are women, so women’s participation in mainstream economy is very important to attain a sustainable economy, also said the SME consultant.
Bangladesh Bank has undertaken several steps to flourish women entrepreneurs across the country including awareness raising programme on refinancing scheme through using local and national media, arranging national seminar and conference.
The central bank along with other relevant ministries and financial sector has been working relentlessly for the development of country’s women entrepreneurs.  
The central bank as already established a separate department named SME and Special Program Department to help develop the women entrepreneurship, said the BIBM SME consultant. 
The central bank has also instructed the financial institutions to open a “Women Dedicated Desks” to help facilitate them in financial inclusion.
A women entrepreneur Mrs. Afreen, who is also a member of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), said that women entrepreneurs feel encouraged for running their business and thankful to the k for providing loans under the refinance scheme. She urged banks to provide more low interest loan for the betterment of the country’s women entrepreneurs.