Prime Bank And BRAC Bank Join Bangladesh Bank Green And ICT Refinance Schemes

Dhaka, September 29, 2026 — Prime Bank PLC and BRAC Bank have both signed participation agreements with Bangladesh Bank to become participating financial institutions (PFIs) under the central bank's refinance schemes for green factory buildings and ICT sector development — joining EBL, NCC Bank, and Southeast Bank in the growing green financing ecosystem.

📋 Prime Bank's Agreement

Faisal Rahman, CEO of Prime Bank PLC, and AKM Nurunnabi, director of BB's Sustainable Finance Department, signed the agreements at BB headquarters. Under the schemes, BB provides access to low-cost financing for:

• 🌳 Green factory buildings and industries
• 💻 ICT sector development projects

📋 BRAC Bank's Agreement

Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, MD and CEO of BRAC Bank, and AKM Nurunnabi signed on September 24, 2026. Key details:

• 💰 Revolving fund: Tk 2,000 crore (Tk 1,000 crore per scheme)
• 💰 Interest rate: up to 5 per cent
• 💰 Tenure: 3 to 10 years
• 💰 Covers: Green Factory Building scheme + ICT Sector Development scheme

💬 BRAC Bank CEO's Statement

💬 Tareq Refat Ullah Khan: “Bangladesh's next phase of growth depends on businesses becoming more productive, technology-enabled and environmentally responsible. Through these schemes, we can help eligible clients access affordable capital to make those investments.”

💬 “When businesses can build cleaner facilities and stronger technological capabilities, they become better placed to compete, grow and create opportunities for the country.”

💻 ICT Scheme Coverage

The ICT scheme covers eligible activities in:

• 💻 Software development
• 🧠 Artificial intelligence
• ☁ Cloud computing
• 🔒 Cybersecurity
• 💳 Fintech
• 📊 Data analytics
• 🤖 Robotics
• 🏥 Healthtech

🌳 Green Scheme Coverage

The green scheme supports:

• 🏭 Construction or upgrading of environmentally sustainable factories
• 🏭 Projects meeting recognised green-building standards (e.g., LEED)
• 🏭 Energy efficiency improvements
• 🏭 Waste management systems
• 🏭 Water conservation infrastructure

🏢 Growing List Of Participating Banks

With Prime Bank and BRAC Bank joining, the full list of banks participating in BB's green and ICT refinance schemes now includes:

• 🏦 Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) — green investment + women entrepreneurs
• 🏦 NCC Bank PLC — green factory building + ICT
• 🏦 Southeast Bank PLC — green refinance scheme
• 🏦 Prime Bank PLC — green factory buildings + ICT
• 🏦 BRAC Bank — green industry + ICT (Tk 2,000 crore)

💼 Why This Matters For Bangladesh

The growing participation demonstrates Bangladesh's banking sector alignment with the country's sustainable development agenda:

• 🌳 Environmental compliance — supporting RMG factories to meet international buyer requirements
• 💻 Digital transformation — financing ICT sector growth for economic diversification
• 💰 Affordable financing — 5% interest rate is significantly below market rates
• 🌏 LDC graduation preparation — building competitive, sustainable, technology-enabled industries
• 📊 Climate resilience — green infrastructure is more resilient to climate impacts

📜 Looking Ahead

With five banks now participating in BB's green and ICT refinance schemes, Bangladesh's sustainable finance ecosystem is gaining significant momentum. The Tk 2,000 crore revolving fund (via BRAC Bank alone) provides substantial financing capacity for eligible entrepreneurs.

For Bangladesh's RMG, manufacturing, and ICT sectors, these refinance schemes provide access to affordable, long-term financing that can support the transition to more sustainable, technology-enabled, and globally competitive industrial operations.