DHAKA: Banglalink, one of the leading mobile-phone operators in the country, with support from The Asia Foundation and the District Women’s Business Forums (DWBFs), has launched a new initiative to empower women throughout the country.

The launching ceremony took place at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka on Tuesday.

The new project has been launched to connect district level women entrepreneurs through the creation of a mobile phone network and delivery of ICT based business tools and service.

The program, titled ‘Connecting Women Entrepreneurs through Innovative use of Information and Communication Technology’, marks the beginning of an initiative supported by The Asia Foundation and four District Women’s Business Forums (Rangpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal).

The initiative will facilitate the creation of a mobile phone network in these districts, and will ensure delivery of ICT-based services and business tools to connect district-level women entrepreneurs with modern technology.

MA Mannan, State Minister, Ministry of Finance inaugurated the project.

Solaiman Alam, Marketing Director of Banglalink, Shibly Zaman, Head of B2B, High Value and International Roaming, Irum Iqbal, Head of VAS, Data & Device, Shehzad Sarwar Hossain, PR & Communication Senior Manager, Arvid Chowdhury, Post-paid Market Development Manager and Rashed Hasan, M-commerce Manager also present in the programme.

Banglalink is the 2nd largest mobile telecom operator in Bangladesh with over 29 million subscribers, and a subsidiary of Netherlands based Vimpelcom Ltd.

BDST: 1725 HRS, APR 22, 2014