DHAKA: It has been proved over the years that women entrepreneurs return their loans properly. So, the government can provide soft loans to them.

The government can also establish a specialized bank for women with a view to involving the section of populace in business. This will be fruitful to society.

Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) founding president Nasreen Awal Mintoo told banglanews in an exclusive interview.

She believes that the development of women as well as their empowerment will make society prosperous.

Children also enjoy their mothers’ financial solvency and honor in society, she adds.

The women entrepreneurs’ leader also urged male populace to play an active role in the progress of women.

Nasreen, Managing Director of MF Consumers Limited, also works as a director in several organizations under Multimode. She is also involved in various social activities.

She also observed that women in Bangladesh have advanced in different sectors. They have been struggling to achieve this. Male hands are needed to make this progress continued.

Nasreen said country’s premier, speaker and opposition leader are female. The PM has been working for the development as well as empowerment of women in the country. But, still women development has not achieved according to our expectations, she said.

There are many seminars and discussions regarding the development of women. Many suggestions have been coming out. But they are confined into seminar rooms.

Nasreen also opined that though women are in cabinet and national parliament, they are not involved in policy making. This situation also exists in their family life too.

Women are now involved in small and medium business. They should come in larger enterprises, she said.

SME fairs have been arranged to inspire women entrepreneurs. SME-Day can be organized in this regard, she adds.

About obstacles in women entrepreneurship in country, Nasreen said many women want to invest in big business. But banks do not provide them loan. Soft loan to women should be ensured, she also observed.

Regarding the problems of bank loan, she shared her experience saying that she appealed to banks for loan to establish an industry but she was declined. Later, she took loan from a leasing company.

Nasreen concluded with the comment that a special allocation has been proposed in budget. But there is no guideline about this.

BDST: 1556 HRS, JUN 16, 2014