Women Entrepreneurs Breaking Barriers in Bangladesh

The Women’s Empowerment for Inclusive Growth (WING) project focuses on integrating women into formal economies as employees and entrepreneurs, challenging stereotypes and systemic inequalities in social, political, and economic spheres. Operating in ten Upazilas across Bangladesh, the program (2020–2024) seeks to enhance women’s economic participation, income security, and sustainability at local levels.

The project targets three key outcomes: enforcing policies that empower women economically, increasing women’s involvement in local economic activities, and unlocking access to domestic capital for expanding women-led enterprises.

Women face significant hurdles, particularly in securing financial resources. Requirements like property-linked collateral, outdated legal documentation, and societal biases against their financial capabilities limit access to loans. Additionally, gaps in skills, market knowledge, access to quality raw materials, and technological adoption compound these issues. Broader challenges, including logistics, global certification processes, and cyber harassment, add complexity.

Despite these barriers, government policies such as the National SME Policy 2019 and the National Women Development Policy (2011) create supportive frameworks. Bangladesh Bank directives also promote women-led businesses.

A WING-supported entrepreneur in Kurigram, working with menstrual hygiene products, highlights the challenges of marketing in conservative communities. Despite stigma and limited awareness, her cooperative expanded distribution across districts, even supplying sanitary napkins to flood-stricken Sylhet. However, financial obstacles persist, such as restrictive loan conditions requiring guarantors and deposits, forcing her to mortgage personal assets.

Through WING’s SME grants, she acquired advanced production equipment, but political and societal biases often hinder her eligibility for further grants or recognition. Even after decades of success, societal acceptance as a businesswoman remains elusive.

Women entrepreneurs play a critical role in social development, yet they are often undervalued. Long-term training, better financial support, and systemic changes are vital. Financial institutions must prioritize assisting women entrepreneurs and implement transparent monitoring systems to foster progress.

With targeted initiatives like WING, Bangladesh can unlock the full potential of its women entrepreneurs, paving the way for equitable growth and sustainable development.