Country’s women entrepreneurs are now carving out a niche for themselves in businesses and drew attention of media by their relentless efforts at their works, reports BSS.
Three women entrepreneurs –AfrozaKhanamMili, ChhadekunNaharandSanjida Salma Poly — are the example of women entrepreneurs who made their marks in businesses and became successful.
When AfrozaKhanamMili, 35, who hailed from Kadirabad area of capital’s Mohammadpur area, started her business she had only Taka 3000 as capital. But in the short span of seven years, her capital stood at Taka 50 lakh. He has been operating ‘Hostashoily’ boutiques since 2013. When she started business, both she and her husband were unemployed.
“In the beginning, all my relatives and friends were very much negative and they criticized me a lot. They didn’t like to see me as an entrepreneur after completion of my Master’s degree. But I was tenacious about my motto and carried out my job perfectly and honestly. And today all of my relatives and well-wishers praises me a lot,” Mili said.
“I took training from Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) on entrepreneurship. My husband helped me in my business and inspired me. Rupali Bank has given me loan to expand my business. I am grateful to the authority of the bank,” she added.
ChhadekunNahar, who hailed from Rangpur, started her business with only Taka four hundred. Now her business institution employs 30 to 35 people. The 34-year-old woman, owner of ‘BarnaliBoutiques’, started her business in 2004.
In 2017, Chhadekun became the first from Rangpur division in the Women Entrepreneur Fair organized by BSCIC. She got an SME loan of Taka two lakh from Union Bank to increase her business that year.
ChhadekunNahar said her family and husband were the main obstacles for her to be an entrepreneur. “They didn’t want me to do that. But my three children have always inspired me to continue the business.”
Sanjida Salma Poly, who hailed from Barishal, said she had a tendency of sewing from her early age. She started working on a small scale in 1992. But there was opposition from both the families including her husband. Her ‘ShilpaKutir’ showroom is situated in Rupatali of Barisal.
The successful entrepreneur, Sanjida Salma, currently is giving training on bakery, advanced cooking, beauty parlor work, sewing, block and boutique to other women in her locality. Now she has a capital of Taka 25 taka. In 2012, she expanded business taking loans from IFIC Bank.
Dr. Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President of GlobalEntrepreneurship Network (GEN), who delivered the speech on February 16, 2019 in Dhaka, said, “Bangladesh is now home to a huge young population. It has a strong workforce and the young people who are capable of working right now can make any revolutionary change in the economy of Bangladesh.”
“Many young Bangladeshi people are becoming successful as entrepreneurs and many young people are interested in business. So, there is no doubt that Bangladesh will be changed in near future based on the capabilities of these young people. One day Bangladesh will be known as a country of entrepreneurs, especially the women entrepreneurs to be at the cutting edge of the business,” he added.