Staff Correspondent
Ahead of the National Budget for FY 2026–2027, the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEB) organized a pre-budget dialogue in the capital, focusing on sustainable development of women entrepreneurs, addressing business challenges, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
The seminar, titled “Accelerating Women’s Entrepreneurship for Inclusive Growth: Recommendation Report Sharing for National Budget 2026–27,” was held on Saturday at Hotel Lakeshore in Gulshan.
Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Honorable Adviser to the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended the event as Chief Guest.
Among the special guests were Abul Hai Sarker, Chairman of Dhaka Bank, and Member of Parliament Helen Jerin Khan. The session was chaired by Nasreen Fatema Awal, President of WEB, who also delivered the welcome speech.
In his address, Dr. Titumir emphasized that policy proposals put forward by women entrepreneurs must go beyond discussion and be effectively implemented. He highlighted concerns over de-industrialization and the declining participation of women in the formal labor market, as reflected in recent economic surveys.
He mentioned that previous national leadership had demonstrated how crises could be turned into opportunities, and stressed that the current government is committed to adopting women-friendly policies and measuring progress through women’s advancement.
He further noted that initiatives such as universal family cards and agricultural cards have already been introduced, and that new policies are being developed to simplify licensing processes and improve access to SME financing.
He underscored the importance of micro, small, medium, and cottage industries as the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy.
WEB President Nasreen Fatema Awal, in her speech, highlighted access to finance as one of the primary barriers faced by women entrepreneurs.
She urged banking institutions to adopt more supportive and empathetic approaches toward women entrepreneurs, noting that many women struggle to clearly articulate their business needs despite having strong potential.
She emphasized that a more cooperative environment within financial institutions could significantly boost women’s confidence and participation in entrepreneurship.
At the beginning,the keynote paper and recommendation report were presented by Mahiul Kadir, Executive Director of WEB.
The event also featured a panel discussion and Q&A session. Panelists included Dr. Nadira Sultana, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance; Chowdhury Liaquat Ali, Director of Sustainable Finance Department at Bangladesh Bank; Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh; Zahida Fiza Kabir, CEO of Sajeda Foundation; Nazim Hasan Sattar, Deputy Managing Director of SME Foundation; and Shahamin S. Zaman, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh.
Nasreen Fatema Awal concluded the event with closing remarks. The dialogue was attended by university students, business leaders, and a large number of women entrepreneurs from across the country.
