The government has announced collateral-free loans of up to Tk10 lakh to support students and job seekers enrolling in language courses and skill development programmes abroad.

According to a press release issued today (31 March) by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the loans will be provided by Probashi Kallyan Bank to facilitate skill development and expand overseas employment opportunities.

The programme, titled “Loan for Language Education and Special Skills for Overseas Employment”, aims to support Bangladeshis who want to learn foreign languages and acquire technical skills before going abroad for work or study.

Under the scheme, eligible applicants can receive up to Tk10 lakh without collateral. The bank said the loan will be provided on easy terms to those willing to undertake language training and specialised courses, particularly for countries such as Japan, South Korea, China and Germany.

The loan facility will cover tuition fees to be sent directly to the relevant educational institutions as well as expenses for accommodation and living costs during the training period abroad.

To apply, candidates must be residents of the respective bank branch area and be under 40 years of age. Applicants must also submit an offer letter issued by an educational institution in the destination country and proof of basic language proficiency, such as Japan’s N5 level or TOPIK Level 3 for South Korea.

Required documents include passport-size photographs, a copy of the national ID card, educational certificates and guarantor-related documents.

The annual interest rate for the loan has been set at 11%, with a maximum repayment period of three years. The bank said further details regarding fees and charges will be determined according to its existing policies.

Interested applicants have been advised to contact the nearest branch of Probashi Kallyan Bank or call the hotline 16238 for more information. Further details are also available on the bank’s official website.