An Assignment

On

Women Contribution in the Society as an Entrepreneur

Course Number: ADS 521

Course Title: Entrepreneurship Development

Submitted To:
Dr. Arifa Jannat
Assistant Professor
Institute of Agribusiness and Development Studies,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Date of Submission
08.01.2023

Submitted By:
Name: Nishat Tasnia
Roll Number: 22180102
Institute of Agribusiness and Development Studies,
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.
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 Table of content
Content Page No.
Introduction 02
Women Entrepreneur 02
Women Entrepreneurship Scenario in Bangladesh 02-03
Reasons for Increasing Women Entrepreneurship 04
Economic Contribution of Women Entrepreneur 04-05
Agriculture 04-05
Ready-Made Garment (RMG) 05
Small And Medium Enterprise (SME) 05
Problems Faced by Women Entrepreneur 05-06
Conclusion 06
References 06

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Introduction
Bangladesh is a resource-limited and overpopulated country where society is highly stratified,
services and opportunities are determined by gender, class and location. Existing sex ratio in
demographic structure of Bangladesh indicates that women comprise almost 50% of the total
population (BBS, 2020). They are essential part of nation’s human resources. Due to this
demographic structure, the issue of the participation of women in the mainstream economy is
imperative. Without a meaningful and active participation of women, half of the total population,
in regular economic activities, a dynamic and sustainable economy is impossible. A sustainable
economy is a precondition for national growth and prosperity including institutionalization of a
democratic system. It is also impossible to achieve the target of a poverty-free society without
incorporation of women in the mainstream economy (BWCCI, 2018).

However, women make nearly half of the population which means huge potential to be utilized for
socio-economic development of the country. Development and enrichment of women
entrepreneurship are the means of promoting national competitiveness and sustainability. Its
represent the individual and community level initiative and contribution towards the greater
national economy, poverty alleviation models pursued by both the GOs and NGOs consider the
above mentioned phenomenon as one of the prior sector of intervention.

Women entrepreneur
The term “women entrepreneur” deals with that section of the female population who venture out
into industrial activities i.e. manufacturing, assembling, job works, repairs/servicing and other
businesses.

A women entrepreneur is one who is innovative, confident, financially independent women

proficient in achieving self-economic independence or in partnership, creates employment
opportunities for the people, by promoting, setting up, and operating an enterprise, combining
factors of production, undertake risks while keeping pace with personal and social life.

According to J. Schumpeter, “Women who innovate, initiate or adopt business actively are called
women entrepreneurs.”

Women’s economic empowerment is an inevitable part of development discourse. Excluding

women from the mainstream development program, institutionalization of a sustainable
development process is just unthinkable. It is inspiring to mention here that a new woman’s
entrepreneurs’ class is increasingly emerging each year taking on the challenge to work in a male-
dominated, competitive and complex economic and business environment.

Women Entrepreneurship Scenario in Bangladesh

Women entrepreneurs are significantly growing day by day across the globe and their numbers
have doubled compared to the last decade. In Bangladesh, rural-urban and educated-uneducated

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women are entering the domain of entrepreneurship and this growth phenomenon has intrinsically
been fueled by the advent of information technology (IT). With the help of social media,
particularly Facebook, Twitter, Messenger, etc., a woman entrepreneur can easily promote and
market her products.

Women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh has witnessed many transformations. Many uneducated

women today are enthusiastically raising family incomes through micro ventures and reinvesting
their earnings in their families and communities (Reza et al., 2014). These women also inspire
other women in their localities to pursue their dreams through entrepreneurship at the grassroots
level. Even though they do not undertake their businesses at a commercial level, they are breaking
barriers and inspiring other women to become self-reliant. Women entrepreneurs, who have
accepted the challenges of life and have emerged as leaders in the socioeconomic development in
Bangladesh and their contribution towards the family, the society, the overall economy of the
country is remarkable. Bringing women to engage in income-generating activities have now
become a major concern for the policy makers.

Social Impact
Upgrade social status
Improved decision making ability
Establish women’s rights
Women Entrepreneurship Create self-dependency
Education Eradicate gender discrimination
Training Self inspiration
Age Pass leisure time
Source of finance
Initial investment
Economic Impact
Duration of business
Extra income for the family
Economic freedom
Self employment
Economic development
Creating employment opportunity

Figure: Conceptual framework depicts influences of women entrepreneurship on the social

and economic arena. (Source: Reza et al., 2014)
To support the rise of women to positions of real decision making, we need to change the social
obstacles and ancient customs. It time to make people realize that women business owners are not
restricted to small rural entrepreneurs.

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Reasons for Increasing Women Entrepreneurship

In recent years, the rate of new business formation by women has significantly risen in Bangladesh.
However, women still own and manage significantly fewer businesses than men. The explanation
for this rising rate and the behavior of female entrepreneurs in terms of traits, motivations, success
rates, and their gender-related distinctiveness are, however, complex and multifaceted.

Here are some of the reasons for the increased interest in fostering women entrepreneurship
include:
a) The acceleration of economic growth requires an increased supply of women
entrepreneurs, when successful, act as a change maker in their families and society and
inspire others to become self-reliant and take up entrepreneurship.
b) Past and recent experiences of failures of microbusinesses and non-performance of
enterprises have underscored the importance of entrepreneurial competence. Half of the
world’s population cannot be ignored: women can make an important contribution to
business creation.
c) For the success of microenterprises, especially in manufacturing, development efforts have
come to depend more on the person behind the project, the women owner/manager and the
entrepreneur.
d) Over the years, the educated women have become ambitious, acquired experience and
basic skills, knowledge and self-assurance. The most important role played by an average
female entrepreneurs include the following:
e) Exploring the possibilities and prospects of starting a new business venture.
f) Risk taking and handling of economic uncertainties involved in running a business venture.
g) Serving as agents of innovations and limitations of innovative tendencies.
h) Coordinating all factors of production, administration and control of their businesses.
i) Supervision and effective leadership style.

Economic Contribution of Women Entrepreneur in Bangladesh

Works typically divided along gender lines, with men being responsible for “outside” work and
women for housework and child care. Bangladeshi women suddenly changed their activities. They
are now working in different economic activities and paying important role in national economy.
They are adding value in Gross domestic product (GDP).

Here we will discuss the role of women in national economy in terms of Agriculture, RMG (Ready
Made Garments) and SME (Small and Medium Enterprise):

i. Agriculture:

In Bangladesh the share of women in the total economically active population is 39%, indicating
relatively lower economic participation by women (Roy, 2016). Most often, activities such as care
of livestock and poultry, vegetable growing, post-harvest processing and preservation, usually
done by women in the farm households. Women engaged in agriculture and 71.5% of total female

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population related activities. Men engaged in agriculture and related 60.3% of total male
population activities Women engaged in agriculture 45.6% of total population engaged in
agriculture. 54.4% off men of total population engaged in agriculture. 21.6% of women of total
population engaged in product manufacturing. 78.4% of men of total population engaged in
manufacturing agricultural product. Average women engaged in agricultural 64% of the total
women activities (Roy, 2016).

ii. Ready-Made Garment (RMG):

Garments sector is the largest employer of women in Bangladesh. The garment sector has provided
employment opportunities to women from the rural areas that previously did not have any
opportunity to be part of the formal workforce. At present 2.88million (78% of the total garment
worker) female workers engaged in RMG sector of Bangladesh (Roy, 2016). Woman in RMG
Employment in the RMG (Ready Made Garments) industry has provided direct access to cash
income for the first time to many poor women.

iii. Small and Medium Enterprise (SME):

In Bangladesh SME provides over 87% of the total industrial employment and is responsible for
the creation of over 33% of industrial value-added goals. At present women entrepreneurs
constitute less than 10% of the total business entrepreneur in Bangladesh (Roy, 2016). Bangladesh
is rightly dubbed as a country of the SMEs.

Problems Faced by Women Entrepreneur

Women must contend with a wide range of challenges in business. Here are some of the challenges
women encounter – and some of the larger-than-life female entrepreneurs who overcame them.
Women-owned businesses are still in the minority, and the hurdles faced by women who have
embraced entrepreneurship are vast and often very different from those experienced by their male
counterparts.

To shed light on some of these disparities, we try to find out the key challenges women
entrepreneurs face as follows:

a) Access to Finance & Financial Institutions in Bangladesh

b) Lack of Knowledge
c) Lack of Training
d) Lack of Entrepreneurial Training
e) Family Responsibilities
f) Government’s Taxing Policy
g) Lack of Skilled/Trained Manpower
h) Lack of Skilled/Trained Manpower
i) Access to Marketing Facility
j) Access to Marketing Information and Network
k) Lack of Access to Infrastructure
l) Lack of Access to Technology

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 m) Absence of R&D to Improve Product Quality
n) Insufficient Guideline from Govt. & NGOs
o) Lack of Support System
p) Problems in Collecting Accounts Receivable
q) Lack of Right to Use of Land

Conclusion
Women entrepreneurship is not only a source of income generation but also a way of achieving
economic independence. Realizing the importance of women entrepreneurship, Bangladesh
government has taken several initiatives to encourage women getting involved in various micros,
small and medium enterprises. Women have now become aware of their socio-economic rights
and have ventured to avail the opportunities initiated for them. It is impossible to achieve the target
of a poverty-free society without incorporation of women in the mainstream economy. Considering
the issue, a special emphasis has been given by the Government, donor agencies, NGOs, business
community and all other relevant stakeholders through different interventions to ensure increased
women’s participation in formal economic sectors, especially in business and industry. It also
reduces the possibility of domestic violence against women.

References
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). 2020. Local Business Dynamic: Ground Realities and
Policies Challenges, PPRC, Dhaka: 23.
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI). 2018.
Roy, I. 2016. The Socio-Economic Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Global
Journal of Management and Business Research: B Economics and Commerce 16(5): 12-19.
Reza, M.S., Gazi, M.A.I. and Doula, M.A. 2014. Socio-Economic Impacts of Women
Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh: Challenges and Anticipations. Banglavision 13(1): 38-57.

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 Group Contribution
Group No.: 02
Name ID.
Nishat Tasnia 22180102
Tanzila Hassan 22180104
Md. Khaled Mahmud 22180105
Umma Atia Erina 22180106
Mahadi Hasan 22180107
Mst Anila Khatun 22180109
Md. Faisul Islam 22180110
Tusar Lahiri 22180114

We all members have worked with collaborate. We did homework such as searching in internet,
gathering information in separate and then combined all data together. We tried to collect all
information from relevant source.