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Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

Business Inspection BD September 26, 2022

LISTICLES

Women worldwide are raising the bar everywhere, whether it is in education, technology,
architecture, fashion, healthcare, media, or sports. Every year, the world welcomes more
and more women entrepreneurs to enrich the global economy. Our country is also blessed
with such rising stars as well. However, women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh is not as
common as in the world as only 7.2% of all businesses in the country are owned by
women.
But the scenario is changing, and more Bangladeshi women are entering the world of
business as leaders, paving the way for thousands of people while also inspiring and
guiding them. Today, we will introduce you to ten of these inspiring women entrepreneurs
whose determination, self-confidence, and courage propelled them to become some of the
most influential figures in Bangladesh.

1. BiBi Russell
One of the legendary fashion designers in the Indian subcontinent, Bibi Russell, is working
continuously to promote the local hand-woven textile industry of Bangladesh. She was
born in Chittagong in 1950 and graduated from the London College of Fashion in 1975. For
the next two decades, she had a very successful career in fashion modeling, working for
renowned magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Vogue. In 1994, Bibi Russell returned to
Bangladesh and founded Bibi Production to realize her dream of rejuvenating and taking
the local textile and handicraft industry to the global market while highlighting the native
Bangladeshi culture. The drive to improve the local craftspeople’s quality of life worked as
her primary motivator. Now the company strives to establish itself as an innovative,
ecological, and global brand that brings humanism and harmony together.
Bibi Russell organized hundreds of local and international fashion shows and showcased
her creations in countless countries. In the ’90s, she organized multiple fashion shows in
Spain and Paris. She showcased her innovative fusion, Rajasthani Khadi, at India Runway
Week Winter-Festival 2016. In 2022, Bibi Russell launched her collection in another fashion
show in Bengaluru, India. UNESCO titled her “Artist of Peace” in 2001. Furthermore, she
received Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Costume Design in “Moner Manush” in
2009.

2. Taslima Miji
The CEO and founder of Techmania, Taslima Miji, is one of the best examples of women’s
leadership in the tech industry of Bangladesh. She was born in Chandpur and grew up in a
large joint family. She started writing in newspapers in 1997 and worked as a journalist
until 2007. However, because of some unfortunate circumstances, Taslima Miji left
journalism, and with a friend’s encouragement, she started her journey as an entrepreneur.
Taslima Miji started exploring the field of computer hardware businesses. Finally, in June
2008, she established Techmania, a company that offers computer-related hardware and
networking solutions. Techamania’s services are available inside Dhaka, which includes
assembling, troubleshooting, and repairing computer systems.

Taslima Miji went through many ups and downs before reaching her position today as a
successful entrepreneur. She faced many obstacles to establishing herself in the male-
dominated tech industry of Bangladesh. However, because of her determination and bold
spirit, she confronted them head-on and triumphed. Today, many other aspiring
entrepreneurs admire her for her hard work and personality.

3. Ivy Huq Russell

Ivy Huq Russell always considered failures as delays, not defeats. She is constantly driven
to take on challenges, and is very persistent to succeed. After leaving her career as an
investment banker, she wanted to explore her underlying passion for helping people in
need. As a consequence, her brainchild, Maya, was born. Ivy Huq Russell founded Maya in
2011, known as “Maya Apa” back then, to improve Bangladeshi women’s access to
information, especially regarding physical and mental health. By 2014, the company
started working with BRAC as a partner and focused on offering complete healthcare
services, such as video consultations and an online OTC medicine shop.
Maya App was launched in 2015, making its services more accessible with a user-friendly
interface. Maya became immensely popular among users as it is easy to understand,
allows users to ask questions anonymously, and enables experts to deal with each query
as fast as possible.

Maya is the first Bangladeshi startup to join Google’s Launchpad Accelerator program. By
2019, 25% of Maya’s consultations were being operated by AI (artificial design)
technology. Through this amazing venture, Ivy Huq Russell contributed to improving health
awareness and promoting women empowerment all over the country. Her
accomplishments highlight her talent and desire to use it for philanthropic purposes,
earning people’s respect.

4. Sabila Enun
Sabila Enun grew up focusing on two things – establishing her own identity with her work
and making her parents proud. She is always exploring new opportunities to learn and
improve. Often found successfully handling multiple responsibilities at once, Sabila Enun
will inspire you to strive for more. Currently, she is working as a Lead Technological
Analyst in a Nike Foundation project. However, her main concern is DCastalia, a leading
software development company in Bangladesh that is thriving with Sabila Enun’s
contribution. Sabila Enun is one of the founders and the Head of Communications and
People at DCastalia, which was established in 2009. The company offers technological
solutions both nationally and internationally. Its services include website development,
software development, app development, graphic design, technical support, and many
more.
Sabila Enun has been nationally and internationally recognized for her work. She received
the “Mobile Innovation Award 2016” from Google Developer Group, Bangladesh. In October
2017, she was titled “Outstanding Women Entrepreneur.” Moreover, in May 2016, Sabila
was one of the judges at the Hult Prize. Being an extraordinary businessperson with a
wandering mind, Sabila Enun has always been destined to be a successful entrepreneur.

5. Rubaba Dowla
Rubaba Dowla has been a renowned figure in the world of business even before becoming
an entrepreneur. She proved her merit in product innovation, brand management, and
correspondence again and again, especially in the telecommunication industry of
Bangladesh. After being involved in this industry for 15 years and working with giants such
GrameenPhone and Airtel, she decided to be an entrepreneur in 2017. She is currently
working as the Country Managing Director at Oracle as well. Rubaba Dowla is Pulse
Healthcare Service’s founder, which was established in 2017. It is a telemedicine platform
that connects patients and doctors through video conferences.

This platform aims to ensure patients receive good healthcare from their homes, avoiding
waiting in long queues at the hospitals. Such online consultations are secure and
convenient, and the platform showed its significance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Sabrina Islam
While so many brilliant entrepreneurs are advancing the technology, healthcare, and
fashion industries of Bangladesh, Sabrina Islam is modernizing the country’s architecture
field. In the late 90s, when she used to work with Bangladesh Handicrafts Cooperative
Federation (Karika), Sabrina realized that stained glasses were not available in the country
and they needed to be imported. However, the demand for decorative glasses was
growing, and architectural trends were changing. Identifying this market gap, Sabrina
Islam gained skills in making decorative glass arts and founded Reflections in Bangladesh
in 1998. Initially, with no trained employees and a lack of raw materials, it became difficult
for her to keep Reflections afloat.

However, with hard work and determination, the company started to become more
successful. Now it sells products such as curved glass, etched glass, sandblasted glass,
stained glass, engraved colored glass, and traditional glass overlay.
In April 2009, Sabrina Islam received the “Outstanding Women in Business for 2008”
award from The Daily Star-DHL World Wide. In addition, she was titled the Most
Outstanding Women Entrepreneur – From Asia by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and
Industries in Doha, Qatar, in 2008. Currently, Sabrina Islam is the president of the Women
Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) Bangladesh. She is an executive committee member of
the Bangladesh Employers Federation as well.

7. Samira Zuberi Himika

Samira Zuberi Himika grew up in a family that always encouraged her to take part in the
country’s development. As a result, she developed an interest in working for social and
economic development and wanted to infuse the process with innovation. But before
becoming an entrepreneur, Samira Zuberi Himika worked with several development
organizations, including UNDP and BBC World Service Trust, Bangladesh. In 2010, Samira
Zuberi Himika established Team Engine, a social-good company. The primary goal of this
company is to support other entrepreneurs and innovative ideas. It works towards
enabling an excellent ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship, incubate promising
ventures, and ensure the overall social good of the country.
8. Selima Ahmad
Selima Ahmad is another inspiring and ambitious entrepreneur, thriving in both her
business and political careers. She has a long history of working with some of the biggest
entities in the country, such as the Nitol-Niloy Group. She was also a board member of
Janata Bank and Sonali Bank. But her most significant achievement is establishing the
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or BWCCI, in 2001. BWCCI is the
first chamber of commerce that is dedicated to only women in Bangladesh. The
organization researches and offers support to women entrepreneurs in the country. In
November 2021, BWCCI, with funding received from UNDP, started working on a project
aimed towards providing digital and financial literacy training to 3,000 women
entrepreneurs.
Taking such a noble initiative to empower Bangladeshi women and improve their quality of
life, Selima Ahmad has been honored locally and globally. In 2014, she received a “Special
Recognition Award” at the 28th CACCI Conference. In the same year, she won the “Oslo
Business for Peace” award as well. Her dedication to promoting entrepreneurship among
underprivileged women will inspire others to contribute to collective progress.

9. Selina Qadar
Selina Qadar is one of the pioneers of women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. She
focused on one of the primary industries of the country – agriculture. In the 1980s, Selina
Qadar observed that the Bangladesh Government provides only a 10% subsidy for potato
export. With the primary goal to promote the export of potatoes, she established
Agriconcern in 1985. Agriconcern has been supporting farmers to produce and export
10,000 to 20,000 metric tons of potatoes every year. The farming venture has grown big,
and now it is able to develop the export market for other agricultural products of the
country as well. Therefore, it has prepared a dedicated R&D plan to help the winter
vegetable market. Agriconcern also promotes farming among local women entrepreneurs.

10. Nadia Binte Amin

Nadia Binte Amin started her journey as an entrepreneur in 1993 by co-founding Research
and Computing Services Private Limited (RCS) with some of her friends. She is also the
MD and CEO of BEAS and TARA foundation and the Director of The Federation of Chamber
and Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). It is impressive to see how one person successfully
manages all these huge responsibilities daily. Nadia Binte Amin’s own organization, RCS,
was established with the goal of offering advanced IT, research, logistics, advertising,
training, and event management services to businesses and social communities in
Bangladesh. It has been involved in research work for organizations such as UNDP,
UNICEF, and other renowned global entities.

Just like her brainchild RCS, Nadia Binte Amin has been enthusiastically engaged in the
social development of the country. Many of her personal collaborations with projects on
education, child protection, sanitation, hygiene, and labor security further prove her keen
interest in improving the quality of life of the underprivileged population. Because of her
relentless effort to contribute to the employment and economic empowerment of
Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs, Nadia Binte Amin won the Lifetime Achievement
Award of the Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs in 2022.

What is the Future of Women Entrepreneurs in

Bangladesh?
Most Recent
Bangladesh, with a score of only 36.4 out of 100, was one of the lowest-ranked countries
in the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs in 2020. The score essentially suggested
that the country’s economy still has to be improved further to encourage more women to
explore entrepreneurship. The current barriers Report
that the women entrepreneurs in
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to connections,
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collateral, networks, and business skill development.

However, in an event jointly organized by UN Women, UNDP, and UNDCF on International

Women’s Day 2022, it was suggested to improve women entrepreneurs’ access to financial
services through further development of financial inclusions. Financial and banking
institutions are working towards the same goal as well. For example, in August 2022,
HSBC decided to launch the Female Entrepreneur Fund to promote women-led startups.
Report

Moreover, LankaBangla and Bangladesh Bank How

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an agreement in August 2022 that
enables LankaBangla Finance to provide loans at a minimum rate of 7% to women
entrepreneurs. In March 2022, Meta, partnering with BWCCI, the ICT Division’s a2i program,
and LightCastle Partners, introduced the “She Means Business” program. The program
aims to equip women entrepreneurs with connections, skills, and technology to grow their
ventures online.
Report
With so many new initiatives and support programs from national
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organizations, we can see a bright future for women entrepreneurs
Happened to Them? in this country. The top
women entrepreneurs we have got to know today have gone through many obstacles and
thrived on clearing the path for newcomers in this field. Their contribution to the country’s
economy, development, and women’s empowerment will remain a significant part of our
history.

Report

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