Staff Reporter :
Women play a significant role in driving economic development in Bangladesh, Megan Bouldin, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Dhaka, said on Sunday.
She made the remarks while congratulating the women entrepreneurs who successfully completed the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program this year.
“You are paving the way for future generations of women entrepreneurs and proving that women have a critical role to play in Bangladesh’s economic development,” Bouldin remarked during the celebration at BRAC University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) in Badda, Dhaka.
The US Embassy, in partnership with BRAC University, honored 90 aspiring women entrepreneurs at the event, recognizing their successful completion of the AWE program.
“The AWE programme is not just about entrepreneurship—it’s about economic empowerment,” Bouldin stated.
“When women succeed in business, their families, communities, and economies thrive,” she added, emphasizing the far-reaching benefits of empowering women in business.
As part of the event, Bouldin announced an additional $30,000 grant to fund a business pitch competition for 140 participants across all AWE cohorts.
“We are thrilled to announce this funding, which will allow women from all cohorts to compete for multiple $5,000 awards to support their entrepreneurial ventures,” she said.
Bouldin also reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to supporting women’s economic empowerment and fostering gender-inclusive economic growth that benefits all communities, including religious and other minority groups across the country.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of 78 exceptional women entrepreneurs from across Bangladesh—including Sylhet, Cumilla, Barishal, Khagrachari, Jashore, Chattogram, and Dhaka—who successfully completed the second cohort of the US government-funded AWE program. Six top business pitch winners from this cohort were awarded for their outstanding business proposals.
The women entrepreneurs recognized at the event come from marginalized and minority communities, demonstrating their resilience and determination throughout their entrepreneurial journey.
The AWE program, a global initiative of the US Department of State, equips women with essential business knowledge and skills.
Delivered in partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, the program uses the DreamBuilder platform to offer online learning resources and soft skills training.
The three-month course, conducted in Bangla by industry experts, emphasized sustainability, peer-to-peer learning, and networking—creating a solid foundation for business growth.
This collaboration with BRAC University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development aims to further support and empower women entrepreneurs across Bangladesh.