BSCIC to assist in disbursement of stimulus fund

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will provide necessary assistance in loan disbursement activities under the Taka 20,000 crore stimulus package announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the micro, cottage, small and medium industries to keep the wheel of the country’s economy moving.

BSCIC, under the Ministry of Industries, has been included in the One-Stop Service Act, 2018 to attract domestic and foreign investment. Prime Minister's Office issued a notification on July 19 (Sunday) to include it in Schedule 'A' of the Act.

Due to the inclusion, all small, micro, cottage and medium industrialists have been given trade license, land registration, naming, environmental clearance, construction approval, electricity, gas and water connection, telephone connection, explosive license, boiler certificate and all related service get from one place. As a result, no investor will have to go to the concerned government departments for initial approval and other services. The rules will also determine the number of days for which services should be provided to investors.

BSCIC issued an order on July 15, appointing six directors of BSCIC to provide necessary assistance for distribution of the incentives round the clock, said an Industries Ministry press release issued today.

As per the order, Director (Technology and Skills) Dr Mohammad Abdus Salam has been given charge for Rajshahi, Pabna, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Narail and Magura districts.

Director (Finance) Swapan Kumar Ghosh has been given charge for Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Dhaka districts while Director (Industrial Development and Extension) Md Khalilur Rahman for Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Joypurhat, Naogaon and Bogra districts.

Director (Marketing, Design and Crafts) Md Alamgir Hossain has been given charge for Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Barguna, Barishal, Pirojpur, Jhalokati, Gopalganj, Madaripur and Shariatpur.

Director (Planning and Research) Golam Md Farooq has been given charge of Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Tangail, Sirajganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Faridpur and Rajbari districts and Director (Engineering and Project Implementation) Mohammad Ataur Rahman Siddiqui has been given charge for Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Chandpur and Bhola.

In this regard, BSCIC Chairman Md Mostaque Hasan said that in the meantime, meetings of SME loan disbursement committees of 42 districts have been held and steps have been taken to implement the decisions taken in the meeting.

Meetings of the remaining districts will also be held soon, he added.

He said the loan recovery rate for small, micro, cottage and medium industries is 99 per cent. “If such institutions are given loans from banks, they will be able to turn from small to medium and medium to large industries and will be able to play a role in the development of the country,” he added.