The womenfolk nowadays are not only busy with their household chores, but also contributing towards their family with earnings.
The womenfolk across the country have created a revolution in e-commerce availing the benefits of Digital Bangladesh of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
People working with e-commerce said the global market system is now almost online based. It is further proved during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as people are continuing their selling and buying staying at home.
Especially, women entrepreneurs are now selling a big portion of their products to different e-commerce companies through online platforms instead of selling those directly in the market.
It is not only ensuring fair prices of their products but also keep both customers and sellers safe from infection of Coronavirus, which indeed a “silent revolution” in Digital Bangladesh.
After completing graduate, Nice Aktar, a resident of Bogura, started cultivation with her husband Sazedur Rahman on 20 decimals of land.
At first, Nice began papaya cultivation alongside poultry and cow rearing. She also continued needlework and sewing, which she taught from her mother and aunts.
She firstly sold her goods at the local market with the help of her husband. But she said she didn’t get fair prices for her produces.
“I often got less price as I was not aware of the market price previously. But, reality has changed. Now, I don’t need to send my husband to the market for selling our products. I myself contact with the wholesale sellers through smartphones,” said Nice, who has already become a confident person.
Not only Nice Aktar, Adamdighi’s Mahmuda Aktar, but Bhaluka’s Asma Islam and Baby Rahman are also continuing revolution in e-commerce.
Nice said online market platforms – Parmida, Market Bangla, Daraz Bangladesh and Food for Nation are collecting Agri products directly from them.
The government is providing various types of training to entrepreneurs across the country. At the initiative of the ICT Division, various kinds of training on e-commerce and freelancing are being imparted to rural people.
Alongside the government, different non-government organisations including Action Aid are providing training to women entrepreneurs.
Nice Aktar, however, said some problems still exist. “We’re rural people and we’ve not adequate knowledge of technology. But, it’s a potential side for our framers,” she said.
Nice said the rural women will be more encouraged in producing agricultural products if their supply chain is made smooth through online under the government and non-government initiatives. In this regard, she sought the cooperation of the authorities concerned.
While talking about the issue, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira said her ministry is imparting training to the women on various trades for generating employment.
“The womenfolk are not staying at home and they’re being built as successful entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has built Digital Bangladesh … the female have created a revolution in e-commerce and small trade in Bangladesh by using information technology,” she said.
Indira pointed out that the government has formed the Joyeeta Foundation for marketing and branding of the products of women entrepreneurs.
The state minister said the construction work of a 10-storey building of Joyeeta Foundation will be inaugurated at Dhanmondi in the capital within this month.
She said the women are contributing most to e-commerce and they’re running 80 per cent of the country’s total online and e-commerce organisations.
“They’ve set an example of women empowerment in society,” the state minister said.
(BSS, UNICEF)
