The award was given at a ceremony held during the Asia Pacific Bankers Congress in Manila recently, says a press release.

The ceremony was organised by the Asian Bankers Association and Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines.

The financing programme for women entrepreneurship of Janata Bank has been highly commended as a runner up in the micro finance product or programme category of the Asian Banking Awards 2004.

Under the women entrepreneurship programme, Janata Bank is providing fixed and working capital finance to the women entrepreneurs without collateral security up to Tk 0.5 million in different programmes.

Two hundred women entrepreneurs have availed themselves of the credit facilities from Janata Bank. Under this scheme, a total amount of Tk 4 crore has been disbursed. The recovery rate of such loan has been estimated at 99 per cent.