With the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand, H.E. Ms. Saida Muna
Tasneem in the audience, Dr. Rahman remarked that financial inclusion
was bolstering economic growth in the country. He commended AIT’s
partnership with the Bangladesh Bank, stating that officers of the Bank
had benefitted from their education and training at AIT. Describing AIT
as a “bridge” that provides opportunities for Bangladesh Bank officials
to emerge as future leaders, the Governor stated that capacity building
is instrumental in a country’s development.
H.E. Ms. Tasneem commended Dr. Rahman stating that he was globally
recognized and commended banker and development practitioner. She also
described AIT as a “high seat of excellence in technology, environment
and sustainability.” Introducing the Governor, Dr. Jonathan Shaw,
Executive Director, AIT Extension, highlighted the long and successful
partnership between AIT and the Bangladesh Bank.
Delivering his talk, Governor Rahman stated that the focus on
financial inclusion by his bank had led to stability in the financial
sector. Highlighting the initiatives of the Bangladesh Bank, which is
the central bank of the country, Dr. Rahman mentioned that it is
mandatory for all banks to ensure a minimum of 2.5 per cent lending to
the agriculture sector. Bank accounts for farmers have crossed 10
million, and easier farm credit has helped Bangladesh emerge as a net
exporter of rice and become self sufficient in a number of crops.
Further, one million sharecropper families have benefitted from this
scheme. He narrated how schemes of financial inclusion have helped the
agriculture sector, small and medium enterprises, as well as
children.
Later Dr. Atiur Rahman met with the AIT President Prof. Worsak
Kanok-Nukulchai. He was accompanied by Dr. Jonathan Shaw and Dr. Fazle
Karim of AIT Extension.
