In February 2003, Ayesha Edib Khanom’s life changed forever.
Her husband, who served as a Major in Bangladesh Army suffered from a massive
heart attack and subsequently retired from his service in mid-2004. Ayesha was a
loving wife and mother to two young girls at the time, who was then left with
the daunting task of finding work to produce an income for her family. This is
her story.
Although Ayesha came from a well educated family, she had
spent the last 17 years as a dedicated housewife and had very little knowledge
of business outside the home. For many women in this position, the thought of
becoming an entrepreneur would seem impossible, but for Ayesha, it was her only
option of ensuring a good life for her and her family. When asked whether
Ayesha was apprehensive about starting her own business, she recalled the
overwhelming fear of what would happen to her family if she didn’t and
explained that people will do extraordinary things when faced with limited
opportunities.
Ayesha was very resourceful when starting her first
business. She used the contacts she made as an army wife, found a gap in the
industry, and became a general supplier to the Bangladesh Army. Her first
business came out of necessity to provide for her family. However, once she got
a taste of life as an entrepreneur, she never looked back. In 2012, Ayesha
started Unique Catering Service and the following year, moved into both the
construction and garment export business.
Becoming a female entrepreneur in Bangladesh is not an easy
task. Not only do women have to succeed in the business world and set the
precedent for future businesswomen, but also ensure their family life does not
suffer the consequence. Ayesha believes that the challenge for many working
women is finding that right balance between her family and business. She noted
that women should be willing to treat their business as having a second family
and be willing to devote an equal amount of care and attention.
Ayesha had great insight into the differences on the social
and economic situation between women in rural and urban settings, explaining
that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all business model for women across the
country. She went on to identify possible strategic plans to advance both the
urban and rural entrepreneur, believing that women running businesses in urban
settings require higher education and proper training in technology, in order
to advance their SMEs into larger international companies. As for female
entrepreneurs in rural areas, Ayesha emphasized a need to develop not only the
economic situation, but also improve the social mindset of women by helping
them understand their rights. As well as include training that increases
women’s confidence and motivation to succeed in business.
Ayesha is incredibly positive when looking to the future of
women in Bangladesh. She understands how important entrepreneurs are to the
development of the economy and also appreciates the impact NGOs have had on the
country, especially in the rural areas. She went on to say that she believes in
the next fifty years, women in Bangladesh will be empowered and there won’t be
a difference between a woman in this country compared to the most independent
woman anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, she acknowledged the role
Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BWCCI) has had in the
transformation of women entrepreneurs in the country. She understood that
businesswomen in Bangladesh face an array of difficulties on a daily basis and
appreciated the support and advice offered by the chamber, as well as the
networking opportunities offered to each of the members.
When asked where Ayesha gained her strength to become an
independent successful business woman, she simply replied, “I understand that
nothing is given in life – you have to earn it and I have faith that God is
with me to go it alone”. What’s remarkable about Ayesha and so many other women
entrepreneurs in Bangladesh is that she didn’t allow her misfortune to dictate
her life. Rather, she learned from her hardships and used it to completely
transform her life. Ayesha is truly an astonishing woman and BWCCI is proud to
have her as one of our members.
