Women entrepreneurs thrive in Rajshahi

After being entrepreneurs on various trades
and ventures, many women have become self-reliant, contributing to the
society in many ways in the region.

Entrepreneurship is not only boosting their level of confidence but also
infusing dynamism into the ongoing process of women empowerment.

The dream of Oishy Mehjabeen, a resident of Sheroil Colony area in
Rajshahi city, came into reality as she became an icon in her dream catcher
business arena.

Dream catcher is such a thing which people wear to help block bad dreams
and catch good ones.

Mehjabeen started the business with Taka 500 while she was studying in
English literature in a private university in 2018. But, amazingly, she
becomes successful within the next couple of years. Four young boys and girls
working in her venture, at present.

“We make unique designed and multi-colour dream catcher goods, ear rings,
key rings and necklaces. Dream catcher mixed with yellow and red in black and
another rose colour is more attractive to the buyers,” said Mehjabeen while
talking to BSS recently.

She added that demand for dream catcher products is gradually increasing
as many people use these fancy items for enhancing their room’s
beautification.

Many of the women entrepreneurs have become financially solvent through e-
business amid the present novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic situation.

Nipa Sengupta, 23, one of the promising entrepreneurs, has engaged herself
in the e-business with millet powder and burley flour as her initial
investment was Taka 500 on June 14 last year.

Nipa said, “I have never thought of earning in my life….I sell products
of Tk 1.05 lakh per month.” Nipa viewed that the e-business is playing a
vital role in flourishing identity of the women which is very important in
terms of women empowerment.

Parvin Akter, a woman entrepreneur from Rajshahi, started her business,
“Rajshahi Nakshighor,” in 1998 without any financial support from banks.

Later, in 2016, Bank Asia helped her with a SME loan. Currently, Parvin is
a successful entrepreneur, producing various products, including Nakshi
Kantha bed sheets, yoga mats and Nakshi Kantha clothing.

Generating employment for around 200 workers, Parvin received the National
Women Entrepreneurship award in 2017.

“Bank Asia’s loan came as a blessing for me. With their loan, I expanded
my business,” said Parvin.

Sayeeda Rahman, a post-graduate in Zoology with good results, has started
business of various handicraft products made by village women.

She launched the business without any previous experience instead of
wasting time in searching for any conventional job. “I have established an
enterprise named ‘Aparazita’ with my commitment of building it as a branded
entity,” she said.

In the meantime, she took a 15-day skill development training arranged on
behalf of the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Project (ESDP) which is
being implemented with the initiative of Bangladesh Investment Development
Authority (BIDA).

Sayeeda said the training has enhanced her level of confidence to a
greater extent in terms of becoming self-reliant. She is intended to
establish an economic foundation for the rural women who are engaged in
various handicraft products.

BIDA has been implementing the ESDP project with expanding the investment
field through involving the workable people in all the productive economic
activities.

It has a target of building 100 powerful women entrepreneurs in Rajshahi
city to mark the Mujib Barsha, the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said BIDA Divisional Director AKM Benjamin
Riazi.

Around 2,400 people were imparted training and 525 of them have become
entrepreneurs with investment of around Taka 181 crore in all eight districts
under Rajshahi division. More than 6,000 people got jobs in income-generating
ventures.

“We’ll need entrepreneurs who will create jobs. We are working to create
those entrepreneurs,” Riazi added.