Al-Arafah Islami Bank has organized a month-long specialized Entrepreneurship Development Training Program to promote entrepreneurship and support the sustainable growth of the Cottage, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (CMSME) sector. The program is being held in Jhalakathi under the initiative of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the SME Special Program Department (SMESPD) of Bangladesh Bank, under the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Al-Arafah Islami Bank Training Institute (AIBTI).
The inaugural ceremony of the training program, held on 13 July 2026, was attended by Additional Director of Bangladesh Bank and Program Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP-SICIP) Md. Masum Billah as the Chief Guest. Special Guests included Administrator of Jhalakathi Zila Parishad Advocate Md. Shahadat Hossain, Joint Director of Bangladesh Bank Head Office and Deputy Program Director of SICIP Ayub Ali and Chief Executive Officer of Jhalakathi Zila Parishad Md. Emran Shahriar. The session was chaired by Principal and SEVP of the Al-Arafah Islami Bank Training Institute (AIBTI) Md. Abdur Rahim Duary.
In his address, Chief Guest Md. Masum Billah said that the training program has been designed to enhance the capabilities of cottage, micro, small and medium entrepreneurs by strengthening their business skills, encouraging technology-driven business practices, fostering innovation, generating employment opportunities, and improving the competitiveness of industries. He emphasized that skilled entrepreneurs form the foundation of a strong economy and urged the participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained through the training to establish self-employment, create new enterprises, and contribute to the country’s economic development.
Ayub Ali, Joint Director of Bangladesh Bank, delivered a detailed presentation on the objectives, course contents, implementation strategy, expected outcomes, and overall training plan of the program.
The 20-working-day training program will provide hands-on instruction on entrepreneurship development, business plan preparation, financial management, investment and SME financing, accounting, marketing, digital marketing, e-commerce, information technology applications, innovation, industrial management, leadership, legal and regulatory compliance, environmentally sustainable business practices, and sustainable entrepreneurship development.
The organizers expressed confidence that the program will play a significant role in creating new entrepreneurs, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s industrial sector and overall economy.
