Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur. File Photo

DHAKA, May 08, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur today laid emphasis on maintaining policy consistency to bring inflation down to 4-5 percent.

"Inflation is decreasing in Bangladesh. If we make efforts and maintain policy stability, bringing inflation down to 4-5 percent is not impossible, and that would be an acceptable solution for everyone," he said.

The BB governor said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the 'Banker-Women Entrepreneur Conference and Product Showcasing Fair' held at the Bangla Academy premises in the city.

During his speech, Ahsan H Mansur expressed hope that inflation will decrease further gradually.

"Food inflation in the country was 14.5 percent. Now it has come down to 8.5 percent. Non-food inflation was over 12.5 percent and now it's slightly above 9 percent," he added.

The BB governor, however, said women are not receiving the constitutional rights they are entitled to in reality. 

"There are many obstacles women face when obtaining loans. We must try to find ways to advance women's progress," he added.

"Our mothers and sisters were married at a young age, but in the current reality, that is not appropriate. Women need to be brought out of the kitchen - we need a major change in this mentality. Because we all have mothers, sisters, and daughters," he added.

Currently, Mansur said, women receive only 6 percent of total loans in the banking sector, which is not at all realistic. 

"We need to take initiatives to increase their loans. At the same time, we need to enhance their financial literacy or financial awareness," he added.

Bangladesh Bank's SME & Special Programmes Department organised the event to ensuring greater participation and financial inclusion of women entrepreneurs in the CMSME sector.

Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar, Executive Director Md Khasru Parvez, City Bank MD and CEO Mashrur Arefin, and Bangladesh Bank's SME and Special Programmes Department Director Nawshad Mustafa, among others, attended the event.

The four-day fair will continue until 11 May. Sixty-eight women entrepreneurs from various districts have brought their products to the fair.

On the final day, six women entrepreneurs will be honoured.