Completed
Economic Empowerment
**PRESS RELEASE**
### Rotary Club of Dhaka North Organizes Seminar on Financial and Institutional Support for Disabled Entrepreneurs
**Dhaka, 7 November 2026:** Rotary Club of Dhaka North organized a seminar on **“Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities”** at the BRAC INN Seminar Room on 7 November 2026. The seminar focused on financial and institutional support from the banking sector for entrepreneurs with disabilities in Bangladesh.
The seminar was attended by **Mr. Kanti Kumar Shahar, CEO, Allied Finance PLC; Mr. Shakil Ahmed, Eastern Bank PLC; Mr. Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq, Chief Communications Officer, United Commercial Bank PLC;** and **Mr. Shakil, Upay**. The representatives elaborated on existing financial products and services that can contribute to the growth and development of entrepreneurs with disabilities.
**Mr. Debashish Roy, Director, Impact Investment Exchange**, highlighted the need to make available empowerment-oriented financial products and services more visible and accessible to persons with disabilities so that they can effectively utilize these opportunities for their economic empowerment.
**Mr. Zahidul Kabir, Lead, Disability Inclusion Program, BRAC**, and **Ms. Aziza Ahmed, Director of Operations, Bangladesh Business & Disability Network**, discussed the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders working in the disability inclusion sector and shared their respective contributions toward the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.
**Syed A. J. Rizvi of Allied Finance**, who has already facilitated banking support for entrepreneurs with disabilities, discussed ways to improve financial services for special groups. He emphasized, *“All banking rules must be followed, but within that, we can always be flexible and become proactive. It’s very possible.”*
**Ms. Bappi Sarker of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation** shared the organization’s experience in developing a forum for the economic development of persons with disabilities with support from a broad section of society. She emphasized, *“We must become economically independent if we want meaningful change.”*
Speaking on behalf of entrepreneurs, **Ms. Shormi Roy, Founder of Ahona Rondhonshala**, said that persons with disabilities should not seek charity or sympathy, but rather opportunities to become self-reliant and successful.
She further shared her experience of accessing banking services, stating, *“I have tried to follow all the rules and found the banks to be very responsive. If they wish to make some concessions, that should be part of the bank’s policy and discretion. What we need most is to know how to apply and where to apply for loans and other banking facilities. We, of course, want support, but today’s disabled community wants to be treated as entrepreneurs first.”*
The seminar was moderated by **Afsan Chowdhury of BRAC University**, who highlighted the potential for strengthening collaboration between banks and entrepreneurs with disabilities. He expressed his support within the existing regulatory framework and emphasized the importance of transparency in dealing with this important client group.
The seminar concluded with a decision to prepare a **comprehensive set of documents outlining the procedures for applying for and obtaining banking facilities**. Participants also emphasized the importance of developing policies and mechanisms to ensure greater access to financial services for underserved sections of the economic community, particularly entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The seminar reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among financial institutions, development organizations, disability-focused organizations, and entrepreneurs in creating an inclusive financial ecosystem that enables persons with disabilities to participate fully and independently in economic activities.
### Rotary Club of Dhaka North Organizes Seminar on Financial and Institutional Support for Disabled Entrepreneurs
**Dhaka, 7 November 2026:** Rotary Club of Dhaka North organized a seminar on **“Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities”** at the BRAC INN Seminar Room on 7 November 2026. The seminar focused on financial and institutional support from the banking sector for entrepreneurs with disabilities in Bangladesh.
The seminar was attended by **Mr. Kanti Kumar Shahar, CEO, Allied Finance PLC; Mr. Shakil Ahmed, Eastern Bank PLC; Mr. Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq, Chief Communications Officer, United Commercial Bank PLC;** and **Mr. Shakil, Upay**. The representatives elaborated on existing financial products and services that can contribute to the growth and development of entrepreneurs with disabilities.
**Mr. Debashish Roy, Director, Impact Investment Exchange**, highlighted the need to make available empowerment-oriented financial products and services more visible and accessible to persons with disabilities so that they can effectively utilize these opportunities for their economic empowerment.
**Mr. Zahidul Kabir, Lead, Disability Inclusion Program, BRAC**, and **Ms. Aziza Ahmed, Director of Operations, Bangladesh Business & Disability Network**, discussed the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders working in the disability inclusion sector and shared their respective contributions toward the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities.
**Syed A. J. Rizvi of Allied Finance**, who has already facilitated banking support for entrepreneurs with disabilities, discussed ways to improve financial services for special groups. He emphasized, *“All banking rules must be followed, but within that, we can always be flexible and become proactive. It’s very possible.”*
**Ms. Bappi Sarker of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation** shared the organization’s experience in developing a forum for the economic development of persons with disabilities with support from a broad section of society. She emphasized, *“We must become economically independent if we want meaningful change.”*
Speaking on behalf of entrepreneurs, **Ms. Shormi Roy, Founder of Ahona Rondhonshala**, said that persons with disabilities should not seek charity or sympathy, but rather opportunities to become self-reliant and successful.
She further shared her experience of accessing banking services, stating, *“I have tried to follow all the rules and found the banks to be very responsive. If they wish to make some concessions, that should be part of the bank’s policy and discretion. What we need most is to know how to apply and where to apply for loans and other banking facilities. We, of course, want support, but today’s disabled community wants to be treated as entrepreneurs first.”*
The seminar was moderated by **Afsan Chowdhury of BRAC University**, who highlighted the potential for strengthening collaboration between banks and entrepreneurs with disabilities. He expressed his support within the existing regulatory framework and emphasized the importance of transparency in dealing with this important client group.
The seminar concluded with a decision to prepare a **comprehensive set of documents outlining the procedures for applying for and obtaining banking facilities**. Participants also emphasized the importance of developing policies and mechanisms to ensure greater access to financial services for underserved sections of the economic community, particularly entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The seminar reaffirmed the importance of collaboration among financial institutions, development organizations, disability-focused organizations, and entrepreneurs in creating an inclusive financial ecosystem that enables persons with disabilities to participate fully and independently in economic activities.