Abstract:
Bangladesh continues to be one of the world’s most densely populated nations. According to the United Nations Gender Development index Bangladesh is ranked 121st out of the total of 146 countries worldwide (UNDP: 2001, Human Development Report). Forty percent of its population lives below the poverty level.Among the poor, rural women remain disproportionately disadvantaged. This study examines the role of Grameen Bank (GB) and BRAC in improving the socio-economic conditions and awareness of rural women in Bangladesh through micro-credit programs. The research was conducted among rural poor households who were credit recipients from selected branches of GB and BRAC in Siddirgonj Thana, Narayangonj District, focusing on women with little or no cultivable land whose main source of income was manual labor. Using interviews and focus group discussions, the study explored how micro-credit was utilized and its impact on recipients’ lives. Findings show that credit was successfully invested in small businesses, housing, agriculture, and children’s education, leading to improved living standards, increased participation in family and community decision-making, greater political involvement at the local level, and enhanced awareness of rights and responsibilities. Micro-credit contributed to self-employment, higher household value, and stronger institutional capacity, enabling women to become more organized, self-confident, and empowered beyond traditional family roles. The repayment rate was highly satisfactory, with only six cases of default, though some women faced hardship when male family members misused the loans.
