Women Entrepreneurs’ survival in the course of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Women Entrepreneurs’ survival in the course of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Amrita Nandy¹,  Mohona Biswas^2
1Lecturer, BGC Trust University Bangladesh
²Assistant Professor, Rangamati Science & Technology University

Abstract
Aim of this paper is to identify the endurance Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs’ amid the COVID-19 epidemic. The paper is focused on women entrepreneurs, conducting business mostly (99.93%) in Bangladesh’s micro, small and medium size enterprises. The study is qualitative hence various secondary sources like private and public publications, newspapers, and web-based materials were used to examine the situation. Findings of this study indicate that only 20% women-headed business in Bangladesh has got highly hampered while 90% women entrepreneurs faced tremendous mental, social, and economic stress during the pandemic. In addition, gender inequality has risen. However, even after the tremendous sufferings of this pandemic period, in Bangladesh only 1% of women entrepreneurs wish to leave their businesses. Interestingly, some of these business leaders have discovered a new opportunity to survive and expand through online business. Along with the government’s stimulus package, women entrepreneurs demand more specific and supportive initiatives to endure their business. As an implication, both government and non-governmental organizations can formulate their policies and take measures based on the findings and recommendations suggested in this paper to overcome the crisis of women entrepreneurs.

Keywords: COVID-19; Women entrepreneurs; Bangladesh; Online business; Gender inequality.

Introduction

The vaccination of coronavirus (COVID-19) is going on aiming to save peoples’ lives. Nevertheless, the virus is irresistible till today. The death pool has reached 3,758,560 while the number of cases is 174,061,995 worldwide, till June 10, 2021(WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard). In Bangladesh the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on March 8, 2020, and the summation of civic infection is uprising daily. According to World Bank (2019), before the pandemic, the nation’s per capita income reached at 5,190$. Situated on the Bay of Bengal, this south-east Asian country has a diversified cultural base that has a significant influence on the people, lifestyle, and business pattern. Again that World Bank report states that the GDP was 8.2% while the unemployment rate was 4.19% in the year 2019. SME has a vital role in assuring sustainable progress of Bangladesh economy. From “Worldometers” the total population of Bangladesh is 66, 265, 577 while the male to female ratio is 102.25 :100 (Bangladesh demographics). Within 50 years of liberation (in 1971), the country has achieved noteworthy remarks for improved healthcare, education , nutrition, and creating economic opportunity for women. Yet, women entrepreneurs’ input in the economy is a far way to reach.
The pandemic has halted almost every life while women entrepreneurs are one of the worst suffered as they have to survive on the dual role as a financial contributor and efficient home-maker even within the surge of this virus. The paper investigated the hurdles of those women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh who are yet struggling to invent new opportunities or to fine-tune the business as per situational demand due to COVID-19. In addition, through recommendation, the research tried to draw an outline regarding how the government need to sustain the growth of women entrepreneurs’ in the economy of Bangladesh.

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