Once overlooked, women are now dispelling long-held stereotypes about women-led businesses and emerging as a powerful force in Bangladesh's national economy. From remote corners of the country to major cities, women are playing an increasingly vital role in economic progress. Women's entrepreneurship has unlocked remarkable potential for national growth, with women now leading enterprises in fashion, food, technology, handicrafts and online retail-sectors that are expanding faster than ever before. Through entrepreneurship, women are becoming self-reliant while also helping to mitigate unemployment, as these enterprises create jobs for many unemployed women as well as men.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of women's entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. There are approximately 7.8 million CMSMEs (Cottage, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in the country, contributing significantly to both local and national economic growth. The SME sector accounts for around 20-25 per cent of Bangladesh's GDP. According to a MIDAS study, the monthly business income of women entrepreneurs ranges from BDT 0.1 million to BDT 0.6 million, translating to between BDT 1.2 million and BDT 7.2 million annually-an immense contribution to the economy.
Beyond SMEs, women are also making notable inroads into the corporate sector. They are now working in banks, engineering firms, IT and software companies, pharmaceutical industries and multinational corporations, earning on a par with men and contributing substantially to national economic growth. Around 7.0-8.0 per cent of Bangladesh's total GDP comes from women employed in the corporate sector.
Sustainable economic development cannot be achieved by keeping half of the population in the shadows. Women are already igniting economic growth in meaningful ways. It is therefore high time for the government to take stronger initiatives to encourage women-led businesses and provide greater support, including subsidies, to SMEs.
Tanjila Tasneem Chowdhury
Bachelor of Business Administration
North South University