Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has partnered with the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) to support an initiative titled “Strengthening Economic Participation of Women with Disabilities through Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Market Access” under the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
The initiative aims to enhance the economic participation of women with disabilities by strengthening entrepreneurial capacity, creating market linkages, and expanding skills development opportunities. Through this collaboration, EBL and BBDN seek to promote inclusive economic growth and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring meaningful inclusion of women with disabilities in economic systems.
As part of the initiative, Ashraf uz Zaman, head of planning, strategy and governance at EBL, formally handed over a cheque to Aziza Ahmed, director operations of BBDN, at an event held at the EBL head office on January 22, 2026.
Speaking at the event, Ashraf uz Zaman said, “At Eastern Bank, we believe true progress means leaving no one behind. This partnership reflects our commitment to advancing inclusive entrepreneurship and creating economic opportunities for women with disabilities.”
Aziza Ahmed said access to finance, entrepreneurship support, skills development, and market opportunities are critical for women with disabilities to achieve sustainable livelihoods and economic independence.
Among others present at the event were Arup Ratan Chowdhury, programme manager of BBDN; Md Maskur Reza, FCA, head of business information systems at EBL; and Mostafa Sarwar, head of CRM at EBL.