BASIS introduces forum for women entrepreneurs in ICT

Women ICT entrepreneurs and professionals will now have a common network to discuss their issues and share their experiences after the BASIS introduced a forum for them yesterday.

Women are under-represented in the sector, accounting for 13 percent of the employee headcount, according to the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, the national trade body for software and IT-enabled service industry.

The ratio is even worse when it comes to entrepreneurship:  only 3 percent of the ICT entrepreneurs are women.

BASIS President Shameem Ahsan said the low participation of women in the economy is a big hurdle for developing the nation. “And that's why we have formed this new forum in BASIS to bring all the women under a single network.”

The association plans to bring ICT-related women entrepreneurs, professionals, academics, students and industry stakeholders to the forum, according to Samira Zuberi Himika, director and convener of the women's forum.

BASIS met about 650 women and found that family members and friends hold them back from engaging in the ICT profession, she added.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abdul Matlub Ahmad and Founder of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selima Ahmad spoke at the forum's inauguration.