Dhaka, March 17 -- A latest regulatory move makes it a must-do for banks and nonbanks to lend minimum 27 per cent of their credits to cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises, as new government policy pivots to job-generating economic growth.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) issued Monday a financing-related master circular for the CMSME sector, which employs the largest segment of the country's workforce after the apparel sector, with the lending ceiling for next five years.

The regulator also redefined female entrepreneurial ownership and set credit slabs for the businesses in the CMSME category.

Unveiling the master circular at a press conference at the BB headquarters, officials concerned at SME and Special Programmes Department of the cen...