Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) introduced Urban Poor Development Scheme (UPDS) in a programme on Monday, aiming to contribute to poverty reduction of rootless people and slum dwellers living in the city.

IBBL chairman Professor Abu Naser Md Abduz Zaher formally launched the scheme in the programme held at Islami Bank Bhaban in city’s Dilkusha.

He said, “IBBL runs its programmes aiming to meet the five basic needs of the people like food, clothe, shelter, health and education.”

Speakers in the programme said the UPDS would act in reducing urban poverty through investment in income generation.

The scheme aims to improve the health, sanitation and education status of urban slum dwellers, especially children and women.

Another feature of the scheme is to reduce the level crime and violence through the development of ethical and religious values.

IBBL’s board or management always agrees with these sorts of welfare oriented programmes or schemes of the bank, the chairman added.

Md Abdul Mannan, Managing Director (MD) of the Bank, presided over the meeting. Directors Engr Mostpfa Anwar and Md Abdullah Al-Jalama, Deputy Managing Director Syed Abdullah Mohammad Saleh, among others, spoke on the occasion.

IBBL MD said the Micro Finance Scheme of the bank had been acclaimed far and wide. Terming the opening of UPDS as a historic event, he hoped UPDS would also see the light of success in reducing urban poverty like the Rural Development Scheme (RDS).

The bank has extended its financial support to more than 6 million rural poor and farmers since 1995 under RDS, the speakers said. The scheme is being run through 185 branches of the bank covering 14,000 villages in the country.

The scheme has disbursed Tk 46,875.41 million so far against which present outstanding is Tk 7,892.25 million till April 2012.