Bangladesh Bank Training Academy Journal

Abstract

The paper reviews the current state of financial inclusion landscape in Bangladesh to find out strengths and weaknesses. The analysis shows that financial inclusion has been broadened and scaled up many fold over the last ten years. The study finds that the major strengths are the marginal farmers, sharecroppers, and women entrepreneurs who were excluded or underserved can access financial services due to pursuing credit policy of agricultural and CMSMEs, and scale up financial inclusion through agent banking and MFS in rural areas. The paper also finds out some weaknesses such as ‘the missing middle’ segment of MSMEs, existing higher interest rates, very low insurance coverage and delays to adopt NFIS which are critical for broadening financial inclusion in future.