Women s Voice in Business Policy Shaping Spaces in Bangladesh

The current research emphasizes on development of women entrepreneurs in suburban areas of Bangladesh and their scope in participation in policy formulation to achieve economic independence and empowerment. Women entrepreneurship has been playing a pivotal role in terms of economic growth employment generation and industrialization. In urban area nearly 15.4% of the 36.7% self---employed people are women. In rural area, it is only 7.4% (Statistical Pocketbook, Bangladesh '99). A general observation says that the participation women in business entrepreneurship have developed over last decade. This report is an endeavor to find out major challenges that obstruct smooth development of women entrepreneurs and socio--demographic profile of women entrepreneurs. Mostly primary data has been used to find out the major objective. Literature has been reviewed from different perceptions. The research specially focused to the extent of the participation of women entrepreneurs in policy formulation. The study was done on the districts as well---known as greater Mymensingh. Overall perception of women entrepreneurs about existing business environment were also tried to discover through this study. The study concludes with the massage that still in present age women, although doing businesses, are getting little chance to contribute in policy formulation regarding their business which are still done through male dominated bodies like chambers of commerce, other formal and informal associations etc. The research feels necessity to have further study to make the way out and suggest the nation the better solutions in this regard.