Prospects of women Entrepreneurs in greater Bangladesh.Find of all, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Allah because he has given me the opportunity to complete my term paper of course, I acknowledge the support and assistance given by a number of people. I am grateful to many individuals for the completion of the term paper successfully.

1. 1
Prospects of women
Entrepreneurs in greater Barisal
Supervised By:
Kamrunnessa
Assistant Professor
Department of Management
Govt. B.M. College, Barisal.
Prepared By:
Md. Raminuzzaman
Ramin
B.B.A (Hon’s) 2nd
Year
NU Roll No: 8326340
Reg. No: 2360554
Session: 2012-2013
Department of Management
Govt. B.M. College
Date of Submission: 15 September 2015
ON

2. 2
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
15 September, 2015
Kamrunnessa
Term Paper Supervisor
Department of Management
Govt. B.M College, Barisal.
Sub: Submission of Term Paper on Prospects of women Entrepreneurs in greater
Barisal.
Dear Sir,
The term paper submitted is on Submission of Term Paper on Prospects of women
Entrepreneurs in greater Barisal done as a partial fulfillment of the requirement of BBA.
You assigned me to prepare this term paper as a requirement of the BBA course
curriculum. I am enthusiastic to you for giving me the opportunity to undergo such an
experience.
This term paper is a partial requirement of the BBA program go in making this report
worthy on. I have tried my level best to gather all relative information from the various
sources. I hope that it will meet your expected demand.
I sincerely, hope the this report meets your fulfillment and its appraisal would
demonstrate my ability to prepare a formal report. I would be glad to furnish you with
clarifications, if required.
Thanking you
Sincerely yours
Md. Raminuzzaman Ramin
B.B.A (Hon’s) 2nd
Year
NU Roll No: 8326340
Reg. No: 2360554
Session: 2012-2013
Department of Management
Govt. B.M. College

3. 3
Declaration & Authentication
Student Declaration
I’m Md. Raminuzzaman Ramin a student of BBA 2nd
year department of
Management , Government B.M. College, Barisal declare that this term paper title
“Prospects of women Entrepreneurs in greater Barisal” is a presentation of my own
research work and complied by me. It does not reproduce others work. Every effort is
made to indicate this clearly, with due reference to the literature & acknowledgement of
collaborative research and discussion. This work was done under the guidance of
Kamrunnessa, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Government B.M.
College, Barisal.
Student’s Name: Md. Raminuzzaman Ramin
Student’s Signature: ………………...
Date: ………………
Superviser’s Authentication
Md. Raminuzzaman Ramin, BBA Honours, 2nd
Year, N.U Roll No: 8326340,
Registration No: 2360554, a student of BBA Program has submitted the term paper on
“Prospects of women Entrepreneurs in greater Barisal”. He has completed his term
paper under my supervision. I have gone through the term paper and found that he has
covered some ideal, realistic and practical parts of the study in the term paper.
Supervisor’s Name : Kamrunnessa
Supervisor’s Signature : ………………..
Date:

4. 4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Find of all, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to Allah because he has
given me the opportunity to complete my term paper of course, I acknowledge
the support and assistance given by a number of people. I am grateful to many
individuals for the completion of the term paper successfully.
I have gathered an enormous deal of experience while going through the
internship period and preparation of this term paper. I would like to thank to my
term paper supervisor Kamrunnessa for her excellent guidance and support
during the preparation of the report.
Lastly, my heartiest thanks go to others who were involved and helped directly
and indirectly in completion of term paper and preparing this report. Special
thanks go to all workers of online Services for who spared this time generously
and took the trouble of answering detail information and helped me to complete
my study. Without them all these wouldn’t be made possible.

5. 5
Abstract
Women entrepreneurs do not operate in isolation. They work under the same macro,
regulatory and institutional framework as their male counterparts. However, it is necessary
to dig deeper in order to understand the gender biases embedded in society which limit
women's mobility, interactions, active economic participation and access to business
development services. The business environment for women also reflects the complex
interplay of different factors that ultimately result in the disadvantaged status of women in
society. Women in South Asia remain far behind men in enjoying basic human rights, let
alone participating with men on an equal footing in economic activities.
This study tried to focus the existing problems/constraints/ barriers of women entrepreneurs
considering in all respects. The main issues covered by this study are social, political and
cultural environment for business women in Bangladesh, types of women-owned
enterprises, regulatory procedures including tax, VAT, company registration, training and
capacity buildings and human resources. The study also focused women's access to finance,
business management, product and design development, marketing and the issues related to
business promotion. The study tried to explore the social perspectives of women
entrepreneurs, their conditions and position in family.
We have tried to find out the root causes of the existing problems of women
entrepreneurs. 90% women entrepreneurs are facing financial problems to start or run
their business. In reality, this is not the main problem because there are some
opportunities (though it is so minimum) but due to the patriarchal mind set women
entrepreneurs do not get the existing facilities. In spite of the circular of the Bangladesh
Bank, women entrepreneurs did not get expected loan facilities from the bank. It is a
miracle. On the other hand, the leader of this society is male, maximum cases they are
not gender sensitive at all. So women entrepreneurs have no opportunity to appeal any
where or any way.

6. 6
SUMMARY
In Barisal, a large number of women work in the informal sector, but the real value of
their participation and contribution is not recognized in the society. Differences and
inequalities between women and men exist in terms of opportunities, rights, and
benefits. There are various constraints in the way to the up-gradation of their skills and
enhancement of their productivity. These include poor access to market, information,
technology and finance, poor linkages and networks with support services and an
unfavourable policy and regulatory environment. However, it is heartening to note that
despite many barriers, a new women’s entrepreneur class in the Small and Medium
sector has developed in the country taking on the challenge to work in a maledominated,
competitive and complex economic and business environment. It has been found that at
present women entrepreneurs constitute less than 10% of the total business
entrepreneurs in Barisal where as women in advanced market economies own more than
25% of all businesses. Inspite of these, devision in Bangladesh, not only have the
women’s entrepreneurship improved their living conditions and earned more respect in
the family and the society, but they have also contributed to business and export growth,
supplies, employment generation, productivity and skill development .
In view of the above situation, SME Foundation decided to commission a
comprehensive study on “Prospects of women Entrepreneurs in greater Barisal” to
ascertain their present conditions, identify the sectors of their business activities, find
out the impediments to the development of women entrepreneurship, report their
achievements and problems in business, including their family and social constraints,
and formulate programs based on the approved Gender Action Plan (GAP) of Women
intrepreneurs to increase women’s involvement in the Barisal division.

7. 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topics Page
Number
Letter of Transmittal 2
Student’s Declaration 3
Letter of Acceptance 4
Acknowledgement 5
Abstract 6
Summary 7
CHAPTER-1 (Introduction)
1.1 Introduction 8
1.2 Background of study 9
1.3 Objectives of the Study 9
1.4 Limitation of the study 10
1.5 Objective of women Entrepreneur 10
CHAPTER-2 ( Conceptual Issues)
2.1 Meaning and definition of Entrepreneurship 11
2.2 Women Entrepreneur 11
2.3 Women Entrepreneur in Barisal 12
2.4 Development of Women Entrepreneurs in Greater Barisal 13
CHAPTER-3 (Database)
3.1 Source 14
3.2 Method of data collection 14
3.3 Techniques of Data Collection 14
CHAPTER-4 (Finding of the study)
4.1 Finding 15
4.2 Prospects of women Entrepreneur 15-16
4.3 Type and Role of Support Organizations 17
4.4 Essential consideration for economic development 17-18
4.5 Financial Policies and Strategies 19
4.6 Suggestions from the women Entrepreneurs 19-20
4.7 Steps to Achieving Policy Changes 20
4.8 Steps should be taken for way forward 20
4.9 Gender Prospective 21
CHAPTER-5 (Conclusion)
Conclusion 22-23
Chapter-6

8. 8
Bilbliography 24
CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Contribution of women in the economy is very important for the growth of socio-
economic environment of Bangladesh. Without a meaningful and active participation of
women, half of the total population, in regular economic activities, a dynamic and
sustainable economy is impossible. In view of the need to bring the rural womenfolk in
the development stream of the country, both the Government, the NGOs and other
related agencies have provided ample opportunities to promote entrepreneurial skill
among women. Income-generating activities, credit facilities, skill training, market
opportunities have all combined to pave the way for the emergence of entrepreneurial
development among women in rural Bangladesh. Bangladesh has undertaken systematic
reforms across all sectors in the last decade with an emphasis on the initiatives to
increase women’s participation through laws, international conventions, and affirmative
actions to meet quotas to ensure women’s participation (Groundwork, 2002). It appears
that women have brought a social and economic change; and opened up a new
dimension in the business area through their participation in different socio-economic
activities in Bangladesh.
Over the last ten years, women mobility in the formal economic sector has become more
visible. They have already proved their potentialities as entrepreneurs and are
contributing to the national growth despite different types of socio-cultural and
economic barriers, that are still hindering the development of women, particularly
women SME, in economy. Women entrepreneurs face a myriad of obstacles including
limited access to finance, market, business network, training as well as the double
burden of raising a family and running a business simultaneously. The national
budgetary allocation for women entrepreneurs over the last few years has not been
sufficient. We believe, politically and economically empowered women will make a
great difference in future Barisal.

9. 9
1.2 Background of study
Entrepreneurship is a rapidly rising concern of a modern competitive economy and its
contribution in an economy is viably recognized worldwide. Pakistan being a
developing country is still on its way to understand the need of self-employed people
who can serve the nation rather than being served by it. In the last decade the idea of
self-employment has really increased up and many SMEs have emerged in Pakistan and
contributing to its economic growth & development.
This process of development requires equal participation of all citizens regardless of
gender. But the matter to ponder is, entrepreneurship is viewed as a male-gendered
concept in Pakistan. Women constitute more than 50% of the total population of
Pakistan and this huge portion of population if provided with the proper training and
education can play an overwhelming role in growth of the overall economy of Pakistan.
But unfortunately only 16% of more than 50% of the population is involved in activities
aiming at increasing the revenue of the country. About 60% of the women entrepreneurs
in the country choose traditional businesses like Beauty parlors, bakeries, handicrafts
and boutiques etc. Balochistan as a specificprovince of Pakistan is not an exception,
women in Balochistan are marginalized and unfortunately, the situation of women
entrepreneurship in Balochistan is also not pleasing.Therefore realizing their colossal
potential andunderstanding their problems and prospects are needed.
1.3 Objectives of the Study:
The purpose of the study is to investigate the available support services of women
entrepreneurship to ensure its growth and development in Bangladesh. To achieve this
objective the following specific objectives are outlined:
a) To study the available support services of women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
b) To explore the constraints and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
c) To suggest some policy recommendations to overcome these constraints.

10. 10
1.4 Limitation of study
 Time was limited
 Women entrepreneurs were very busy
 The findings may not be represents the overall sinarioe of the women
 entrepreneurs of Bangladesh
 Large working area
1.5 Objective of women Entrepreneur
The overall objective of the study was to examine the key gender issues involved in
women entrepreneurship development in the SME sector with a view to addressing the
present status of women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, their role in the national
economy, their achievements, their socio-cultural, educational and legal barriers and the
problems of exclusion of women from access to market, technology and finance and
make recommendations for the SME Foundation to support “Business Services for
Women Entrepreneurs”, who face an uphill battle in starting up and developing
business. The study through extensive survey throughout Bangladesh involved both
quantitative survey and qualitative research using Questionnaire Survey, Interviews,
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Planning Workshops. The survey was conducted
in 50 Upazillas of the 34 districts of Bangladesh. Of the districts 9 were from Dhaka
Division, 8 from Rajshahi, 6 from Chittagong, 5 from Khulna, 3 from Barisal and 2
districts from Sylhet Division. Later the district of Laxmipur was added, making the
total number of Districts to 34 within which the survey was finally conducted. The study
was conducted on Women Entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and
a wide range of data dispersed all over 34 sample districts in 6 divisions were collected.
The total number of respondents in the 34 districts of Bangladesh covered by the survey
was 1035 women entrepreneurs. The highest number of women entrepreneurs
interviewed was 35 each from the districts of Dhaka, Tangail, Manikganj, Gazipur,
Narayanganj, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh and Madaripur and the lowest
number was 14 from the district of Laxmipur. 16 women entrepreneurs were

11. 11
interviewed from the district of Noakhali, while in the rest of the districts surveyed the
number of women entrepreneurs interviewed was 30 each. Data were collected mostly
from those women who were actively involved as women entrepreneurs and undertaking
business in various sectors.
Chapter-2
Conceptual Issues
2.1 Meaning and definition of Entrepreneurship
Many authors have defined entrepreneurship in different ways.Hafizullah et al (2012) viewed
entrepreneurship as bringing and implementing novel ideas or modifying the old ones, to bring
innovations into businesses that have the ability to create value.Tambunan (2009)described an
entrepreneur as a self-employed person. Entrepreneurs are considered as vital factors in
initiating and providing social and fiscal development.According to a research the countries
having hefty number of entrepreneurs are more urbanized and are on route for advance
compared to those countries which have less percentage of the entrepreneurs (Rao, Rao and
SuriGanesh, 2011). “Push” and “ Pull” factors are associated with entrepreneurship. Push factors
mainly are lack of employment opportunities, dissatisfaction of working under supervision and
unsupported governmental activities; on the other hand pull factors are the desire for self-
fulfillment and attainment of personal goals ( Singh et al. , 2011). That is why; jobseekers are
nowturning into job creators (Palaniappan, Ramanigopal and Mani, 2012).
2.2 Women Entrepreneur
Female who play an intriguing role by frequently interacting and actively adjusting
herself with socio-economic, financial and support spheres in society is called women
entrepreneur (Pareek, 1992).Tambunan (2009) divided women entrepreneurs into three
categories of chance, forced and created and these categories are based upon the fact
that how they started their businesses. He argues that women, who do not have any clear
objective or goal in their mind at the time of initiating business, fall in the chance
category as with time their businesses evolve from their hobbies. While forced
entrepreneurship is the category for such women who start their businesses being
constrained by circumstances. Whereas the women who start their businesses by being
motivated or encouraged by others fall in the category of created entrepreneurs. Women
entrepreneur are further divided into three categories based on the areas of their
engagement , the micro sphere, where female’s economic empowerment is affected by

12. 12
intra -familial associations. The second sphere is institutional also called meso-sphere; it
includes organizations other than family ones, for example schools, NGOs and other
businesses.
2.3 Women Entrepreneur in Barisal
The District Women Business Forum organised the programme in front of Ashwini
Kumar Hall in the city.Banolata Murshida, president of the forum, presided over the
programme addressed among others by Rebeka Sultana, secretary, Nigar Sultana
Hanufa, adviser Rina Sultana, Khaleda Huq, Hasina Begum Nila, Minu Nasir,
entrepreneurs and forum members. The speakers said it was not fair and acceptable that
political parties would do violence to meet their demands and mass people including
businessmen, professionals would fall victim to such violence. ‘We have been forced to
announce agitation programmes as our businesses are on the verge of collapse because
of the current political crisis. The government failed to ensure the security of our
business and uninterrupted business-friendly environment,’ said a speaker in the
programme. The women entrepreneurs said miscreants had burnt or damaged there
business enterprises, workers were starving due to non-payment of salaries and the
owners were counting losses caused by limited transactions and soaring interests against
their loans. The participants in the programme said women and small scale
entrepreneurs for the last two months were failing to pay wages to their workers,
instalments to banks and payment for back-to-back letters of credit and insurance
premiums. So they urged political parties to keep business sectors outside political
programmes and said frequent blockades, shutdowns, vandalism and arson attacks had
almost broken the supply chain,flow of transaction and consumers.
They asked political parties why they would fall victim to their politics of confrontation
and demanded an immediate end to the political crisis, a business-friendly environment
and punishment of the people responsible for torching, damaging their business
enterprises. If the business of women entrepreneurs collapses because of the political
crisis, the livelihood of thousands of people, directly and indirectly involved in the
sector, will be threatened and political parties will need to shoulder the responsibility,
they cautioned. They also threatened to take to the streets along with their workers and
employees if major political parties failed to reach a consensus within a short period.

13. 13
2.4 Development of Women Entrepreneurs in Greater Barisal
Women Entrepreneurs need to engage themselves to the task first. They need to come
out on their own to take part in the business ventures in the mainstream economy. Only
then they would be able to determine what the real obstacles are and what the solutions
might be and what assistance the state may provide. Entrepreneurship education policy
may bring some results in this regard. In policy and program level, there must be
entrepreneurship thinking; only policy guidelines may not bring much fruitful outcome.
Besides having thinking in the policy level, there should be a medium through which the
linkage between women entrepreneurs and elected member of Union Parishad may be
maintained so that they can collaboratively work with responsibility at the divisional
level. For the accomplishment of successful women entrepreneurship, women must
have the feeling that they are working in a secured environment. Special incentives to
rural entrepreneurs particularly to enable them to access global market opportunity in
lower end product is required. Gender mainstreaming is needed in Export, trade and
policies of BOI. Also Bangladesh Bank can make it compulsory to have a loan officer
dedicated for women entrepreneurs. Along with it a positive social and cultural attitude
needs to be created for a congenial field for investing in women as this promising
sector is yet to be fully explored. Investing in women will transform them into potential
human resources. Again Policies should reflect advancement of financial and technical
know-how. Government should examine the outcome of exiting policy support to the
women entrepreneurs to undertake future policy action; creating a level playing field
and ensuring equal treatment for women.

14. 14
Chapter-3
Database
For making any report most of the data should be taken that reflect actual situation. For
our Term Paper we have collected various types of primary and secondry data. In a
disciplined way we can say that the Term paper input were collected from two sources-
3.1 Source
1. Primary sources:
Face to face conversation with the people of cyclone-prone area of Barisal.
2. Secondry sources:
i. Official web of BDMIS
ii. Annual Reports
iii. Prospectus
iv. Brochures
v. Internet
3.2 Methods of Data Collection
Review of available data and the existing reports/documents was an important initial
work undertaken by the Consultants. Primary data were collected from the fields by
deploying sufficient number of Enumerators, Supervisors and a Field Coordinator in
time. The Gender Expert and other Key Professionals collated, analyzed and extracted
the collected field data and relevant information /recommendation of the FGD, KIM,
Cases Studies and findings of the Planning Workshops for the study.
3.3 Techniques of Data Collection
To collect data from the field, appropriate questionnaires / checklist were developed.
The survey covered elements required for the survey. Qualified and experienced Field

15. 15
Enumerators (FE) from MIDAS roster of Field Enumerators, were employed to conduct
the field survey. For qualitative research, techniques such as interviews, focus group
discussions, key informant interviews and case studies were used.
Chapter-4
Finding of the study
4.1 Finding
Women entrepreneurs involved in different business and income generating activities.
major category of the business of Women entrepreneurs do their on hand stich, The
participants of focus group discussions involved in Boutiques,Tailoring,Mango ketchup
,Sericulture (Reshom guti production),Fish culture,Beauty Parlors,Grocery shop,Cottage
Industry (Bamboo and cane products), Handicrafts, Artificial Jewelry (Pottery, Jhinuk),
Garments, Poultry and Live stock, Paper bag making, Vegetable Cultivation ,Bio-gas,
Mushroom, Spices (Msahla ), Home made food, Confectionary, Net Making, Dry fish (
Shutki), Floriculture,Fashion Design,Restaurant, Show-piece (Candle, wood, Cotton,
muddy made materials),Pati Bunon, Cap Making,Leather goods, Interior design,
Integrated farming. Knitting ,Fast food,lmproved Oven, Poultry feed and fish feed,
Training (Tailoring, block- batik) ,Nursery,Shrimp Cultivation and Paposh.
4.2 Prospects of Women Entrepreneurs
On view of the world, 1.4 billion poor people 70% are anticipated to be women. In the
last few decades women had started to realize the value of self-employment and they are
now utilizing their capabilities in entrepreneurial activities. And it isnoted that there has
been a rapid upsurge in self-employed women in the developed nations. In USA, 25% of
the total business is owned by women and almost same patterns are being identified in
Canada and France where one-third and one-fifthsmall businesses are owned by women
respectively.Whereas in Asia,women comprise 40% of the total workforce.However, in
China women are dominating the men at least by two fold and similar inclinations are
observed in Japan(Rao, Rao and SuriGanesh, 2011).And it is the scarceness of
employment opportunities thattend to raise neologism i.e.“Entrepreneurship Mentality”
(Ahl, 2006). Women can either be self or paid employed. But both of the employments
are prone to risks and problems that discourage females in both domains (Singh et all.,

16. 16
2012).Researchers claim that family issues such as giving proper time and fulfilling
family culpabilities are the chief issues confronted by them(Rao, Rao and SuriGanesh,
2011). Another inquirysupported the findings that women are mainly impelled to be the
home makers (Roomi and Parrot, 2008).Whereas Hafizullahet al (2012)highlightedthat
male dominance in culture creates problems for female entrepreneurs in terms of
limiting their mobility, business participation and market interactions. The further
arguments of the research revealed that women entrepreneurs of Pakistan have to face
both environments; traditional and contemporary in order to run their enterprises.
Traditional category includes socio cultural and religious elements while contemporary
category is a sub category of above mentioned factors and includes constitutional
structure, policy making and other institutional mechanism. Furthermore, they
recognized poor economy and stereotyped society as other factors liable of causing
glitches for female entrepreneurs. The geo-political crisis has adversely affected
Pakistan’s socio-economic growth and such a jeopardized scenario has also affected
women entrepreneurship. The major factors that restrainwomen from business are
gender-based discrimination, lack of communal support, limitedaccess to information,
inadequate education & training facilities, absence of trust in one’s capabilities and
access to resources(Afza, Hassan and Rashid, 2010). These arguments are supported by
the findings of another researchthat says that the lack of proper leadership, planning and
inadequate financial resource allocation is some other difficulties that women usually
face during execution of their businesses (Palaniappan, Ramgopal and Mani, 2012).
Besides all the problems women also face some challenges and significant of them are
uncloaked guidelines, challenging interactions due to gender, dependence upon their
male counterparts for transactions and extra restrictions imposed on them as compared
to their gender counterparts (Ahmad, 2011). By keeping all of above citedproblems,
issues , challenges and societal set up the participation of women into economic growth
through entrepreneurship requires strong family policies which are designed to support
female’s opportunities (Neegaard and Thrance,2011). While Palaniappan, Ramanigopal
and Mani (2012) are of the view that women can opt entrepreneurship as a Nobel
profession to cope with the issues like subordination in their respective families and
societies. Pakistan being the land of opportunity is a very productive place for new
endeavors as it provides the idea situations for entrepreneurship. (Hafizullah et
al.,2012).Asocietal revolution can be brought if appropriate part of women population

17. 17
comes forward in the field of entrepreneurship which can enhance their independence
and self-confidence (Amutha, 2011).
4.3 Type and Role of Support Organizations
Many different types of organizations provide either direct or indirect support to women
entrepreneurs. The various opinions of experts about their role for promoting women
entrepreneurs is discussed below.
The different organizations working with women entrepreneurs include government
agencies, NGOs, research institutes and universities, professional organizations and
private sector. The government's role as a facilitator of women entrepreneurs' growth as
a direct service provider and in cases of market failure is more effective. The
government should try to make more direct provision for most efficient or effective
services like the SMEF. It can facilitate the development of the women entrepreneurs
through various means. It should ensure that the legal and fiscal framework for supports
their growth .It has a role in promoting skill training and providing basic education as
well as developing local economic, physical and social infrastructure. The government
should also work to create an enabling policy environment and to make procurement
procedures open to women entrepreneurs. From a gender perspective the government
should work to ensure that women have the opportunity to participate to the same
extent as men, recognizing the different needs of women. Government should support
policies facilitating women's involvement in the economy, such as childcare provision,
equal opportunity programmes, anti-discrimination legislation, and training for women
in new nontraditional sectors. Since in Bangladesh it is observed that the different
service providers are working on the same theme-training and similar capacity building
programs, government can assign them different roles to perform. For example the
NGOs do the capacity building and private sector to provide access to finance and
government can monitor and evaluate their performances.
4.4 Essential consideration for economic development
The services of the women at home are not properly evaluated by their male partners.
Not only that their potential and capability for entrepreneurship is doubted and
discouraged. Government should take legal steps to remove all discrimination in respect

18. 18
of women entrepreneurship.
1. Technical Support Needed
Women entrepreneurs require up-to-date training for upgrading their skill for
productivity enhancement, better management of the undertaking and improving the
quality of their products and services. Women entrepreneurs have little designing skill,
they need good and marketable designing training, which should be organized.
2. Institutional Services Needed
Trade License requirement and TIN procedure should be simplified. Export Promotion
Bureau should be so activated that it becomes helpful for women entrepreneurs.
Further, it was mentioned that an Information Centre with initiative of the government
should be established for women entrepreneurs. In this way information problems,
which hinder development and marketing, could be resolved . Besides, the women
entrepreneurs viewed that establishing separate Ministry for Women Entrepreneurs
could exclusively deal with all problems of women entrepreneurs.
3. Policy Reform
Women have the views that government should act as facilitator for women
entrepreneurs. In this regard, an investment and business friendly, policy framework
needs to be formulated. Though government committed, government has not
implemented Beijing declaration. Women's empowerment is directly related to
economic development, so engagement of women in national political activities for
national economic development should be legally ensured.

19. 19
4.5 Financial Policies and Strategies
In respect of the policy, strategy and function of Bangladesh Bank and Commercial
Banks following steps should be taken:
• Identification of genuine women entrepreneurs
• Establishing credit guarantee scheme for women entrepreneurs
• Sinking interest rate for loans for women entrepreneurs
• Setting up special w window for financing women entrepreneurs
• Pre- and post investment counseling for women entrepreneurs for credit
• allocation of women share in equity development and fund
• Preferential treatment of the women entrepreneurs by credit in thrust sectors
• Monitoring of credit disbursement for women entrepreneurs
• Maintaining gender-based data on credit disbursement and dissemination
• information on credit opportunities
• Establishing a exclusive bank for women
• Enabling credit for the women without collateral
4.6 Suggestions from the women entrepreneurs
1. Advocacy with different financial institutions
2. Workshop, meeting with financial institutions at divisional,regional and national level
3. Media advocacy for implementing BB Circular
4. Provide easy loan services
5. Separate bank for women entrepreneurs
6. Regional level training institution (training need assessment, training plan and
implementation) for women entrepreneurs
7. Continuous training follow-up and counseling
8. Provide need based technical training
9. Cold storage for raw materials preservation around the year (like mango, hog palm
etc.)
10. Re-starting sericulture at Rajshahi

20. 20
11 . To ensure social security for women entrepreneur
12. Establish ICT center at local level for providing legal and business information
13. Promotion of the success women through media
14. Reduce Bureaucracy
15. Develop Partnership with local administration
16. Ensure easy access to trade fair for women entrepreneur
17. Develop skill trainer on design and product development
18. Ensure domestic raw material for sericulture at Rajshahi
19. Establish women market corner at local level
20. Establish showroom for product display at local and regional level
21. Establish processing center for agricultural product at local and regional level
22. Increase national and international linkage
23. At least 10% media quota for women entrepreneurs
4.7 Steps to Achieving Policy Changes
• Problems of financial institution will also be identified especially those regarding
monitoring and evaluation of small businesses.
• New and flexible financial package will be designed in consultation with the
marketing personnel of the financial institution.
• Dialogue with different trade body like BWCCI, WEAB, WEA and financial
institutions will be conducted to adopt the proposed new credit policy.
4.8 Steps should be taken for way forward of women Entrepreneurs
• Emphasize women's political empowerment
• Increase women's participation in public sector
• Increase male participation for women rights establishment
• Sensitized male dominated bureaucracy on gender and women rights
• Proper Implementation of Women Development Policy 2008
• Ensure property rights for women
• Introduce and implement of the law of domestic violence
• Initiate project! program on "For the women by the men"

21. 21
4.9 Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: Gender Prospective
Realization has gradually dawned on all concerned that a society cannot afford to waste
half of its human resources by discrimination on ground of sex. This increasing
awareness on the part of the government has led to the adoption of national policies to
facilitate a development process involving women in all spheres particularly in
economic activities focusing especially on entrepreneurship development and
empowerment Women's participation in the workplace, leadership role in the political
and social arenas and access to the credit may be regarded as empowerment of women,
though in a narrow sense. Empowerment of women in its very simplistic view asserts
that the gender composition of the workforce and rate of women's participation, if the
percentage is higher, then their empowerment is prominent Redistribution of power in
favor of the women is also regarded as a signal of empowerment It is a process that
enables women to gain access to and control over the physical resources as well as in
the power structures. Besides, it is a mechanism of awareness and capacity building
leading to greater participation in decision-making process.

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Chapter-5
Conclusion
In Barisal, though the majority of the working women still have not been able to
impose a controlling authority in mainstream production, there has arisen a new classthe
women entrepreneurs, who have accepted the challenges of life and have emerged
as leaders in the socio-economic development-earning for themselves and for their
families or contributing towards the socio-political upliftment of the women. Women
have now become aware of their socioeconomic rights and have ventured to avail 9f the
opportunities initiated for them. Rural Barisal is now a changed scenario for the
women who have gathered courage to break barriers and enter off-house working force
as entrepreneurs and workers - a situation not accepted by the society in the past. The
urban areas have greater opportunities for business development but the areas where
women lack assistance are in the access to credit, provision of skill training, and market
facilities. today has become an important profession among the women of Bangladesh
at the various levels of the society, both in the urban and rural areas. Due to poverty,
they have been forced into off-house income through entrepreneurship for economic
solvency, the women of the middle class families, who have always lived a restricted
lives, have today, ventured into this profession as a challenge and an adventure into a
new world of economic activity. On the other hand, many women have taken up
entrepreneurship and become professionals in order to establish their rights through the
development of a sector and thereby contribute towards the progress of the society and
nation. The changing role of women shows that over the last two decades, there has
been a steady upward trend in the participation of women in economic activities in
developing countries including Bangladesh. Despite the problem of serious
underenumeration of women's involvement in economic activities in a sex-segregated
society as ours, the potential of women's economic contribution is now well recognized.
Greater participation of women in remunerative work is improving their living
conditions and bargaining positions in the households and wider community. The
importance of women's entrepreneurship development focuses on women's development

23. 23
in general and their participation in income generating activities in particular, while it
deserves a special consideration in rational development planning on two counts. First,
leaving the women, who comprise about half the total population, outside the purview of
development, no nation, can achieve any significant degree of success. It would be like
working half strength compared to nations where women make full participation.
Secondly, Women's participation in gainful labor is expected to reduce fertility, a
common development goal of the most developing countries. Women entrepreneurship
in the rural industries is a new arena for investigation in the socio-economic
environment of Bangladesh. In view of the need to bring the rural women folk in the
development stream of the country, both the Government, the NGOs and other related
agencies have provided ample opportunities to promote entrepreneurial skill among
women. Income-generating activities, credit facilities, skill training, market
opportunities have all combined to pave the way for the emergence of entrepreneurial
development among women in rural Bangladesh

24. 24
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