Bangladesh Bank yesterday increased the volume of the refinance scheme dedicated to women entrepreneurs with a view to facilitating female-led businesses.

The volume of the scheme now stands at Tk 3,000 crore compared to Tk 1,500 crore previously, according to a central bank notice.

The central bank also changed the name of the scheme to "Small Enterprise Refinance Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs". It was previously called the "Small Enterprise Refinance Scheme".

Female entrepreneurs in cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises will be able to take loans from the scheme.

A central bank official says it rolled out the scheme in 2019, when both male and female entrepreneurs were allowed to avail the loans. But the scheme was later dedicated only to female entrepreneurs.

The official said women entrepreneurs are allowed to get loans at 5 per cent interest from the scheme. If an entrepreneur repays  loans on time, she will be considered to take loan from the scheme again at 4 per cent interest.