In the incentive package announced by the government, IT entrepreneurs are supposed to get emergency loans at 4 percent interest, but due to many restrictions, the entrepreneurs are not getting loans. Entrepreneurs have called for making the management of the bank easier for entrepreneurs to get loans.
The call was made at a virtual meeting organized by the SME Foundation on Wednesday.
Dr. Md. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of the Small and Medium Enterprise Foundation (SMEF), BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir, e-Cab Finance Secretary Md. Abdul Haque Anu and SME Foundation DGM Abdul Salam Attended the event.
Those who did not get a loan from the incentive package for the first time will be allotted this time. This is not an ordinary loan. Md. Mofizur Rahman, SMEF Managing Director said that the loan will be given to the small, marginal enterprises damaged due to the corona pandemic.
Questioning the role of SME Foundation in getting loans, BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir said, “Entrepreneurs are not in a position to take loans with collateral.” There are many people in the ICT sector who are working and it is not possible for them to take a bank loan with collateral. The loan must be unsecured. The SME Foundation has a role to play in making this easier.
Talking about giving loans to entrepreneurs at 4 percent interest, Prime Bank official Kaiser Hasan said, “Last year, we sat with those who are involved in the IT sector like BASIS, BACCO, e-cab to give incentive loans.” We have given loans. We have an agreement with Prime Bank to provide loans at 4% interest. Those who work in the IT sector want to give loans at 4 percent interest. 40 entrepreneurs have got loans at 4 percent interest and I hope there will be more to get the loan.
It was informed in the discussion that the bank will be given loan to the IT companies on easy terms from one lakh to a maximum of 75 lakh taka under the following conditions: those are a loan at 4% interest, a maximum grace period of six months, the loan can be repaid within two years and repaid in monthly installments.
Officials of other banks were also present on the occasion.
