Bangladesh Bank has included three more products under its green banking refinancing scheme, which was initiated five years back, in the wake of growing demand for renewable energy and environmentally-friendly activities in the country.
The products that will come under the scheme include supplying and purifying of surface water project, pumping through solar pumps, establishing green industry and ensuring work environment and safety in the textile and garment industries, said a central bank circular issued yesterday.
Earlier, in May this year, the central bank had included 26 more products under the scheme as a result, currently a total of 44 products are being facilitated in 9 sectors under the green financing programme.
The highest credit limit for supplying and purifying surface water project will be Tk3 crore, it will be Tk20 crore for establishing green industry while Tk1 crore for ensuring work environment and safety project in the apparel industry, according to the circular.
The central bank had launched green banking refinancing scheme at a cost of Tk200 crore in August 2009 to set up solar panels, bio-gas plants and industrial ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plants) under the scheme to help reduce industrial pollution and increase the power supply.
Under the scheme, Bangladesh Bank has provided loans to commercial banks at the interest rates ranging from 5% to 12% for direct refinancing and credit wholesale to the entrepreneurs.
