Eastern Bank hosts month-long Entrepreneur Development Training under SICIP

Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has launched a month-long Entrepreneur Development Training Program as part of its ongoing efforts to support entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.

The program is being implemented under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP), led by the Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank. SICIP is financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to a media release. 

The inauguration ceremony was held on 8 January 2026 at EBL’s Head Office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The program was formally inaugurated by Husne Ara Shikha, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank. Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director of Eastern Bank, presided over the event.

In her address as the chief guest, Husne Ara Shikha highlighted the importance of developing skilled, innovative, and ethical entrepreneurs to ensure sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh. She encouraged participants to focus on identifying diversified business opportunities, generating new ideas, practicing good governance, and acquiring modern entrepreneurial skills.

Speaking on the occasion, EBL Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar said that sound planning, innovation, financial discipline, and integrity are the cornerstones of business success. He added, “Eastern Bank believes that programs like this play a vital role in developing entrepreneurs and building a sustainable SME sector.”

Under the program, trainee and trainer selection was carried out through transparent and structured processes by the Trainee Selection Committee and Trainer Selection Committee. Representatives from Bangladesh Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and Eastern Bank were actively involved in the selection process.

Also present at the event were EBL Deputy Managing Director M. Khorshed Anowar, SICIP Program Director Md Nazrul Islam, Deputy Program Director Md. Ayub Ali, senior officials from Eastern Bank, and 25 selected entrepreneurs for the program.