By Dr Aynal Haque
RAJSHAHI, Dec 22, 2020 (BSS) – Sabina Yeasmin Lipi has explored herself as a potential entrepreneur by dint of her painstaking efforts of boosting level of confidence through income-generating activities.
Yeasmin Lipi, a resident of Terakhadia Uttarpara in Rajshahi city, has been operating her boutique business successfully for the last couple of years. Around 70 women from the less-income and other marginalized families are working in her business establishment.
Recently, she has expanded her business with investment of Taka three lakh afresh after getting a month-long training on entrepreneurship and skill development. She has knowledge of dying printing, block boutique, fashion design and diversified jute goods marketing.
“I have acquired understanding on how to operate business through facing the existing challenges smartly,” Lipi said while talking to BSS with a smiling face.
Khairul Islam, another entrepreneur, has been doing plastic recycling business at Katakhali area. He also expanded his business with a new investment of Taka two lakh generating employment for 20 people. He has added three modern machines in his venture.
“I have a dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur in the field of high valued crops farming,” said Muhammad Rokonuzzaman, a resident of Baliaghata village under Godagari Upazila.
He has established a 16-bigha land for farming various spicy and horticulture crops creating employment scopes of at least 25 people.
Muhammad said the training has enhanced his level of confidence to a greater extent in terms of becoming self-reliant. He is intended to establish an economic foundation for the rural marginalized farming families who are engaged in various productive activities.
Lipi, Khairul and Rokonuzzaman are among 300 young people including 210 women who were imparted entrepreneurship and skill development training under the Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Project (ESDP).
Of the total trained people, 60 have become entrepreneurs with investment of Taka 6.5 crore generating employment for 475 people in Rajshahi district, said Jamila Afsari Alam, District Trainer of ESDP.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has been implementing the ESDP project with the main thrust of expanding the investment field through involving the workable people in all the productive economic activities.
BIDA has a target to build 100 powerful women entrepreneurs in Rajshahi city to mark the celebration of Mujib Barsha, birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said BIDA Divisional Director AKM Benjamin Riazi.
Around 2,400 people were imparted training and 525 of them have become entrepreneurs with investment of around Taka 181 crore in all eight districts under Rajshahi division. More than 6,000 people got jobs the income-generating ventures.
“We’ll need entrepreneurs who will create jobs. We are working to create those entrepreneurs,” he added.
Shakila Bashar Shimul obtained an MS degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering around seven years back. She was also in teaching profession in a private university for five years. Recently, she has completed the 30-day entrepreneurship development training course effectively aimed at transforming her into a successful entrepreneur.
Online business-woman Shakila is now adamant to build her own identity through transforming her into a proficient entrepreneur. She has a fascination with the silk industry.
Mahbub Ara Neela has been working in the ICT sector for almost an era. She was thinking of setting up her own business for a long time. She also managed capital. The ESDP training project made her confident in establishing her own business named ‘Metlife IT Training Centre’.
Liakat Ali, President of Rajshahi Silk Industries Owners Association, said many women are seen establishing small and cottage industries.
He said after getting training, many women are dreaming of becoming successful entrepreneurs here side by side with the men.