Focus on challenges of women entrepreneurs

DU CORRESPONDENT | Published: March 23, 2023 00:39:32

Limited access to financial support from banks coupled with family and social obstacles still remain main challenges for women entrepreneurs in the country.
The observation came at a seminar titled "Empowering Women through Digital and Financial Inclusion", held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University (DU) on Wednesday.
The programme was organised by the Department of Finance, under the Faculty of Business Studies, DU, celebrating the International Women's Day-2023.
DU Finance Department Chairman, Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury presided over the programme and Associate Prof of the department Pallabi Siddiqua coordinated it.
Stressing on the importance of women's empowerment, discussants at the programme said women have created their own place at all kinds of financial area and also proven that they can do both the domestic and commercial job.
Wahida Akhter, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, as the chief guest, UGC Prof Dr Haseena Khan as the guest of honour, DU Computer Science and Engineering Department Prof Dr Suraiya Pervin as the special guest, DU Business Faculty Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Abdul Moyeen as the special guest, Director of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Managing Director of Oracle Bangladesh Rubaba Dowla as the special guest, some women entrepreneurs selected by SME foundation and also the female students of the faculty among others were present at the programme.
Wahida Akhter, has provided insights into the importance of women's empowerment and how Bangladesh is making progress in achieving this. She highlighted that now Bangladesh is more advanced, as women are not only housewives but also employees.
Prof Dr Suraiya Pervin has brought attention to the uneven rights of women in the society with accessing digital devices and the internet. Along with her, Rubaba Dowla also recommended ensuring access to the internet totally for women to get trained by themselves.
Prof Dr Haseena Khan said, "It is very common thought that women will stay at home by instinctively. Even most of the educated persons feel this. We have to change our mentality. Empowering women is very essential for the utmost development of the country."
Prof Dr Muhammad Abdul Moyeen also suggested all to change the negative mentality of towards women.
Prof Dr M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has also highlighted the gender discrimination and harassment on the internet that women are regularly facing. He has suggested learning about the technology to get rid of the harassment online.
Entrepreneurs said they faced main obstacles from the family first. The second challenge is financial support for opening a new project. They also demanded to get loan easily from the banks.
A panel discussion session titled "Access to Finance and Women's Empowerment" was moderated by Shabnaz Amin Audity, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, DU. The session was chaired by Nihad Kabir, former President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Nihad Kabir, along with other participants at the discussion, focused on the lack of credit for women entrepreneurs and the ways to overcome it as well as other challenges. "Bijoyini" The magazine on women's empowerment was unveiled before the panel discussants. The vote of thanks was given by co-convener Prof Nausheen Rahman.
The programme was ended with a cultural program, performed by the students of the department.
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