1.0 CHAPTER 1

1.1 Introduction
In recent times, small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) have come into the forefront of development agenda due to the recognition of their contribution in fostering growth, sustaining global economic recovery, generating employment and reducing poverty (OECD, 2004). But this sector is facing severe problem in financing, regulatory aspects, access to non-financial inputs. Some recent trends show that Government policies have discriminated against small-scale enterprises. There is nothing wrong with a situation in which inexperienced entrepreneurs are unable to get institutional credit (Little, 1987). It shows that the relative decline of small-scale enterprises in most developing countries has been accelerated by the industrialization policies adopted in these countries. Protection, regulatory constraint, investment incentives, credit control, and the promotion of industry in the public sector have all discriminated against the small. The common idea that the cost of capital is very high for small enterprises is overly simple (Little, 1987). From A research of World Bank suggests the existence of financial constraint because formal banks do not lend to the smallest firms in most countries. It has also severe impact on the smallest firms (Levy, 1993). In Bangladesh, small and medium enterprises have been facing multifarious problems related to raw materials, power, land, marketing, transport, technical facilities and finance (Ranjit & Rashid, 1996). Due to their weak capital structure and other regulatory constraint, it is getting more difficult for small & medium industry to contribute to GDP. There is a serious shortage of in depth studies, conducted on the constraints of the SMEs operating in Bangladesh. So it is perceived that a well thought out study is very much required to determine the nature of the various financial,