Bangladesh, the world’s micro lender
June 30, 2009
Md Mahbubur Rahman Bulbul — BRAC, ASA and Grameen Bank are names known across the world. It has been made possible by the work of thousands of Bangladeshis. Why then should Bangladesh continue to miss the bus of development and fall behind? It is a story not easy to explain.
Thailand, Malaysia, South-Korea and many other countries have overtaken Bangladesh in socio-economic development. They have achieved this with their this commitment. Bangladesh lags behind due to lack of political and social commitment.
Using on micro-finance programme and the creativity of its people, Bangladesh can go ahead. ASA, BRAC and Grameen Bank are running the biggest MFI operations. As the largest MFI in the world, ASA is credited for creating a unique environment for operating microfinance operations.
ASA was recently rated the topmost MFI in the world by the prestigious for Forbes magazine. It is a tribute to the outstanding work and devotion with which ASA has been working among the poor. The second position among the top 50 MFIs worldwide has gone to Bandhan.
ASA operates only micro finance programme. So, it achieved the position working since 1991. After full coverage in Bangladesh, under its cost-effective micro-finance model’, it has been operating micro-finance lending programmes in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippine, Ghana, Myanmar, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Nigeria, Eritrea, Cambodia and Afghanistan. Besides, its experts provide technical assistance to these countries.
A large number of consultants and foreign visitors come to ASA to know about its cost-effective micro finance model. ASA provides them the needed support.
ASA-Bangladesh and ASA-International are the two MFI operations of ASA. ASA-Bangladesh operates its microfinance lending through its 3500 branches across the country. It became popular throughout Bangladesh for its simple system of lending and repayment. ASA-International is doing its job with financial support from Washington-based Catalyst Microfinance Investor (CMI). BRAC and Grameen Bank also run microcredit lending in deferent countries of the world. Bangladesh can take pride for the micro credit programmes. They show the nation’s creativity.
The writer is working with the ASA
Source: thedailystar.net
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