By Dr Aynal Haque
RAJSHAHI, Sept 17, 2020 (BSS) – A number of women have become financially
solvent through e-business amid the present novel coronavirus (Covid-19)
pandemic.
Most of the business and institutional establishments were shut down in
the city as elsewhere of the country as well as the world due to pandemic
that brought a massive change to the normal lifestyle.
Like other parts in the world, demand and popularity of the online as well
as e-commerce business has started rising to a greater extent in Bangladesh.
As a result, some young entrepreneurs have built an online business
platform with exceptional and diversified local products properly utilizing
information and communication technologies.
‘Women and e-Commerce Forum’ has already become one of the largest online
business platforms as the number of participating members in the platform has
exceeded around 10 lakh making many women as successful entrepreneurs.
Nipa Sengupta, 23, one of the promising entrepreneurs, has engaged herself
with the business with millet powder and burley flour with initial investment
of Taka 500 on June 14.
From the very beginning, she got a massive response for her burley product
as its nutrition and food value is higher compared to other food grains.
As her products popularity was raising rapidly, she added mixed grinding
powder of burley, wheat, rice, lentil and chickpea to her products’ list.
After getting remarkable response from the clients, she also added
adulteration-free sugarcane gur, butter, whole wheat flour, manually
manufactured indigenous rice and seasonal pickles.
Nipa said, “I have never thought of becoming an income generator in my
life….I sell products of Tk 1.05 lakh per month.” Nipa viewed that the e-
business is playing a vital role in generating identity of the women which is
very important in terms of women empowerment.
Two marginal women were involved with the business of Nipa and they are
helping their respective families through their income.
Abeda Begum, 48, of Dubail village under Tanore upazila in the district,
said she is earning.
Ambia Ferdousi Khanom, a housewife of Boaliapara area in Rajshahi city, is
very much happy after availing the home-delivery based online services since
the pandemic situation began.