The ICT Division will work hard to create 50 percent women entrepreneurs by 2041 by providing training, co-working space and seed money to women entrepreneurs to fulfill the vision of Smart Bangladesh. As a part of this, in the second phase of the promised grant to 2000 women entrepreneurs, grant will be given to another 1000 thousand women on the birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Donations made after September 28 will be given to the rest. Apart from this, so that no entrepreneur fails, under the leadership of e-CAB president, women entrepreneurs will be given a grant of 50,000 taka in the form of WE, Ananda Mela and Women Entrepreneurs of Bangladesh (WEB).
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak made these promises in his speech before handing over the dummy check of the first ‘Bangamata Adamya Udyokta’ grant to 250 selected women entrepreneurs at the conference center of ICT Tower on Monday (August 8) afternoon.
Commenting on the ‘failure rate of women entrepreneurs is lower than men’, the state minister said that mothers and daughters are thrifty and austere. I think this money will not go in vein.
Promising to continue the donation, the State Minister said, this is not the end; Every year on August 8, 1000 ‘Bangamata Adamya Udyokta’ (Bangamata Indomitable entrepreneurs) will be given grants. ICT Division will do its best to provide training, co-working space and seed money to women entrepreneurs to create 50 percent women entrepreneurs by 2041 to fulfill the vision of Smart Bangladesh.
Palak also said that the motivator behind all the movements and struggles of Bangabandhu and the source of inexhaustible motivation in every political activity was the noblewoman “Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib”. Begum Mujib completed Bangabandhu’s activities by following him like a shadow throughout his political career. He also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lived a simple life, inspired by the life of Bangamata. “The failure rate of women entrepreneurs is lower than men”, the state minister said, saying that our mothers and daughters are thrifty. I think the grant given to these entrepreneurs will not go to waste.
He also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lived a simple life inspired by the life of Bangmata.
iDEA Project Director Md. Altaf Hossain presided over the event, ICT Division Senior Secretary NM Zeaul Alam, BCC Acting Director Ranjit Kumar, e-CAB President Shomi Kaiser and WE Founder President Nasima Akhter Nisha spoke in the program. WEB president Rupa Ahmed and UNDP’s Anand Mela consultant Sarah Zita also spoke on the occasion. R. H. M. Alaol Kabir, Senior Consultant, iDEA, delivered the welcome speech.
WE President Nasima Akhter Nisha said, “the indomitable Bangamata grant for women entrepreneurs have been started today. So those who did not get it today will also get it in the future. No one will remain. So everyone will take care of their own initiative. Fortunately, today being my birthday, the way Bangamata has sacrificed herself for the country, you will pray that I can do something for my women entrepreneurs and the country.
Paying humble tribute to Bangamata in the poem written by her mother, e-CAB President Shomi Kaiser said, “To me, Bangamata is a silent metaphor like Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh’s independence. Her name is inextricably linked to Bangladesh. She didn’t have political wisdom. However, everyone from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu to his family has been illuminated in her light. And the whole country has been illuminated by the light of Bangabandhu.
Shomi also said that today’s grant will increase the confidence of women entrepreneurs. When this money goes into his account, he will swell his chest and think I can. We are grateful for taking this confidence from the iDEA project. Because this grant may take the dreams of women entrepreneurs far beyond the borders of the country.
Sarah Zita, the national consultant of UNDP Anandamela project, a sister concern of the event, said, “When gatting Tk 5,000 for a woman entrepreneur is a very difficult thing to do everywhere from home to outside; then the grant of Tk 50,000 will play a very effective role in women’s participation in building a smart Bangladesh. It will take the business of women entrepreneurs forward as well as improve the quality of life. Because, we know that to create a smart Bangladesh, we have to be dependent on technology. Businesses also have to rely on technology.
E-Commerce force of a2i initiative Ekshop Team Leader Rezwanul Haque Jami was also present at the event.
At the beginning of the program, State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to the portrait of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib at the ICT building. Then the main event started at the BCC Auditorium.
Speaking as the special guest, Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam said, “Since the creation of Digital Bangladesh, we have had the courage to move forward in the disrupting way. Now there is no obstacle or danger in moving forward. This time, women entrepreneurs will be trained in 41 districts under the har power project. In this way, women will come forward to build a smart Bangladesh through inclusive development.
The initiative was supported by E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), Women and E-Commerce (WE), Anand Mela and Women Entrepreneurs of Bangladesh (WEB).
A one-time grant of BDT 50,000 was given to each of 250 women entrepreneurs in the said program. The initiative is supported by e-CAB, WE, Anondomela and WEB. The IDEA project undertakes this initiative to provide grants to startups as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, to develop, encourage and accelerate their businesses. In view of this, the applications received from the respective platforms/associations are scrutinized by a special committee formed by iDEA Project and 250 entrepreneurs are selected. 20 from e-CAB, 188 from WE, 31 from Anondomela and 11 from WEB ie a total of 250 women entrepreneurs were given grants of BDT 1 crore 25 lakhs from the iDEA project. Finally, the Hon’ble State Minister handed over the cheque to the women entrepreneurs.