The Speaker of Jatiya Sangsad Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury distributed checks of 50 thousand taka to 41 smart women entrepreneurs from different parts of the country in the DL Hall of Jatiya Sangsad on Monday afternoon. The grant was distributed among potential women entrepreneurs in 7 parliamentary constituencies including Ananda Mela of UNDP, Sarbajaya Nari Entrepreneurship Production Mukhi Samabay Samity Ltd., Samaj, Village and Urban Development Women’s Organization, Bangladesh Entrepreneurship Organization (BUS), Women’s Alliance, Stories to Tell and Women Entrepreneurship Forum.
While speaking as the chief guest, Shireen Sharmin Chowdhury said, “I thank the ICT State Minister for taking and implementing special initiatives for women. This is a unique initiative that Palak’s wife is selling iftar on the occasion of the ongoing holy month of Ramadan. And according to the census, there are more women in the country. Bangladesh will proceed humanely with this number. 57 percent youth of the country will implement Smart Bangladesh.”
She said, women are entrepreneurs by nature. As women are now busy with various activities, the ritual which was made naturally is being commercialized. So our mothers and sisters have to use natural initiatives like pitha making. Businesses should be expanded by implementing their own initiatives by making full use of information technology.
The Speaker said, we will not lag behind in the field of ICT. Because you passed; we have given proof of that. We will lag behind when it comes to IT work.
While speaking as the Chairman, highlighting the role of mother and wife in his own life, the ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said “My wife has opened an iftar shop this time. This is the initiative; No task is small. In this way, Bangladesh will move forward.
Referring to the delivery of accessories to his garment factory, he highlights the qualities an entrepreneur needs. He said, this grant will now reach the union level. The Prime Minister thinks that women will not waste even a single taka.
He also said that 7 million entrepreneurs have created 3 crore jobs in the country. After the grant process for 2000 women entrepreneurs in the first phase, other 5000 women entrepreneurs are under approval process.
The iDEA Project Director Mohammad Altaf Hossain delivered the welcome speech at the “Smart Women Entrepreneurs Grant Cheque Ddistribution” program for potential women entrepreneurs of the country under the initiative of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy Establishment Project (iDEA).
Members of parliament Mosammat Shamsunnahar, Ishrat Ratna, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat KM Abdus Salam, Deputy Project Director and Deputy Secretary of iDEA Project Md. Mizanur Rahman, the chief coordinator of the said event and the human resources consultant of the Idea project Md. Nazim Uddin and many others were present among others.
It is to be noted that, earlier on 8 August 2022, 250 people on the 92nd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s consort “Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib” and on September 29 of the same year in a ceremony organized on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the iDEA project provided1000 smart women 50 thousand taka each as grants.