Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

1. Background

1.1 Women in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a resource limited and overpopulated country where society is highly stratified, services and opportunities are determined by gender, class and location. However, women make nearly half of the population (Table -1), which means huge potential to be utilised for socio-economic development of the country.

Table-1: Population Status of Bangladesh

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|Census From 2009 |Census From 2010 |

|Total |Male |Female |Total |Male |Female |

|106315000 |54729000 |51587000 |126200000 |64819000 |61381000 |

|  |Share at Total Population (%) |  |Share at Total Population (%) |

|  |51.48% |49.52% |  |51.36% |48.64% |

Source: Statistical Pocketbook, Bangladesh 99, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dhaka 1999 (Page 85).

Sex and Age based Structure of the Population (Table – 2) shows that like the male population of the country, women represent a vast resource for the country. They must be provided equal opportunity in education, employment and economic activities, then only this resource could be utilised properly.

Table-2: Sex and Age based Structure of the Population 2010

|Age-base Group |Total Population (%) |Male Population (%) |Female Population (%) |

|10-14 Years |12.6 |12.52 |11.58 |

|15-19 Years |8.52 |8.41 |8.65...