To overcome the epidemic, the government announced special loan facilities for small and medium enterprises in the country. It was alleged that many of the real entrepreneurs did not get these loans at only 4 percent interest. The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSIC) has started providing special facilities to the entrepreneurs who did not get loans despite complaints in the committee. The company has started providing loans worth Tk 100 crore in two years across the country. Meanwhile, 27 entrepreneurs in Chittagong have been given loans worth Tk 68 lakh. The amount of loans among deprived entrepreneurs will be gradually increased, BSCIC officials said.

About three months of general leave was given across the country in late March last year after the onset of coronavirus infection. Entrepreneurs suffered due to the closure of normal business activities. To compensate for this loss, the government announced an incentive package of around Tk 20,000 crore at that time. Of this, Tk 971.27 crore has been disbursed to about 4,446 entrepreneurs in Chittagong so far. However, there are allegations that most of the real entrepreneurs did not get this loan. Recently, 56 small and medium entrepreneurs in Chittagong have lodged a complaint with Chittagong BSCIC for not getting special loan facility, in view of which BSCIC is giving low interest loans to these entrepreneurs.

Sunbd/NJ