Bangladeshi woman: Change in men’s attitude needed for women’s progress

A businessperson inspires women to be entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.

Manzuma Morshed is a successful businesswoman in Chattogram port city. She has been working for women's empowerment and education for years.

Besides establishing herself as a tycoon, she is promoting women entrepreneurs and helps them move forward in various ways in society.

She thinks that there was a time men had a negative attitude towards women trying to become self-reliant. It is good that over the years that approach has changed a lot, accelerating the advancement of women.

"Today, women are taking all kinds of jobs. The main reason behind the progress is the change in the mentality of men. I have two business partners who are men. But in their behavior, I never feel that I am a woman in any way," said Morshed.

She is the proprietor of the M&M Business Communication (a Public Relations agency) and Educational Institution and Admission consulting firm 'Mentors' in Chattogram, a large port city on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

She is also the country head of Winning Magnitude Bangladesh, an Institute of Higher Education in Malaysia.

When her son was young, she obtained her Master in Business Administration – Human Resource Management from the University of Science and Technology, Chattogram.

Continuing study after having a child was very challenging for her. “I started my career with an internship at Standard Chartered Bank and a job at Dhaka-based BRAC (a private commercial) Bank.”

“When I started working at BRAC Bank, I was not able to take care of my child and the job together. So, I quit my job. But, even after leaving it, I kept looking for something to use my talent and willpower,” she said.

As a result, she was appointed as assistant director (admission) at Chattogram-based Asian University for Women, an independent and regional institution dedicated to excellence, women’s education and leadership development.

Later on, she also served as the dean of the same university. After serving for six years in a row, she joined the renowned East Delta University of Chattogram as the director (network and placement).

She set up the educational institution and admission consulting firm "Mentors" franchise to facilitate higher education opportunities abroad for the students of Chattogram.

At the same time, she took charge as the country head of the Malaysian organization "Winning Magnitude Bangladesh.”

Mentors’ Education Limited is a leading education service provider in education for studying abroad. It is a student-focused institution that offers a vibrant and inspirational learning environment.

Mentors have also been sending students to different study destinations including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Malaysia with a very good success rate.

Their one-stop service that includes initial counseling, admission, scholarship assistance, visa documentation, traveling, and accommodation has made it one of the most reputed organizations providing foreign education admission services.

Many students who have availed the services of Mentors’ Education Limited have all praised Morshed and her inspiration, guidance and example.

“I am grateful to the Mentors' educational service. Because of them, I am now in Canada for a higher study. This is a great privilege for me and my future life,” said Shuily Gomes, one of the students.

Another student Hubert Rozario said, “I express my gratitude to their good educational service. Now, I am studying in Australia and this is a big opportunity for my future life. I hope to be successful in my life.”

Mentors have facilitated more than 100 students from Chattogram to pursue higher education in universities of different countries of the world.

In addition, about 2,500 students have completed IELTS (International English Language Testing System), IBA-BBA (International Business Administration-Bachelor in Business Administration) and Group Discussion from Morshed’s institute.

The biggest hurdle that women entrepreneurs face when it comes to borrowing is harassment.

Morshed has also been a victim of harassment. There are many such women. Despite a lot of guidance from the government, in reality, it is not very easy for women to borrow.

She called upon banks and financial institutions to simplify the rules for the disbursement of incentive loans to small and women entrepreneurs so that they can grow as responsible businesswomen in Bangladesh and developing countries.

“Women need grit, willpower, and dedication to be responsible entrepreneurs and contribute for common good in society,” Morshed says.