SheMeansDigital Spotlights Structural Setbacks in Women’s E-Commerce Entry
A roundtable discussion titled “SheMeansDigital – Breaking Barriers: What’s Holding Women Back in E-Commerce” was held on Saturday at the Prajar 71 Auditorium of Daffodil in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The event explored key barriers faced by women in entering and succeeding in the digital business and e-commerce landscape.
Participants emphasized the importance of improving access to finance for women, enhancing digital education, undertaking policy reforms, providing legal support, building advisory systems, and fostering an enabling environment. Discussions also highlighted the need to eliminate obstacles impeding women’s advancement in e-commerce through initiatives such as awareness-building, upskilling, motivational engagement, and the development of strong networks.
The roundtable brought together women entrepreneurs, policymakers, e-commerce experts, and key stakeholders from the startup ecosystem who exchanged insights on the existing challenges women encounter in digital entrepreneurship.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Md. Nuruzzaman, Chief Executive Officer of the Daffodil Family. The session was presided over by Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of Daffodil International University and GEN Bangladesh.
Naushad Mustafa, Director of the SME Department at Bangladesh Bank, attended the event as the chief guest. In his speech, he stressed the need for women-friendly financial policies and highlighted the importance of introducing targeted financial products to facilitate women’s access to the SME sector.
Distinguished guests included Dr. Rubina Hossain, President of the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs; Munir Hasan, Coordinator of Digital Transformation and Youth Programs at Prothom Alo; Sharmin Atique, Executive Vice President of Eastern Bank Ltd; and Samiha Khan, Deputy Director of Brand and Communications at the Daffodil Family.
Moderated by K. M. Hasan Ripon, Managing Director of GEN Bangladesh, the event also featured remarks from Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Daffodil International University.
The roundtable was jointly organized by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department of Daffodil International University and Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Bangladesh.
