An inspiration like none other

It is said that a successful South Asian entrepreneur is able to run business anywhere in the world as they have the skills to overcome multifaceted barriers in almost every step of the entrepreneurial journey. 

For a female entrepreneur, the journey is even more difficult here.

But Rokia Afzal Rahman, one of the first renowned women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, overcame all entrepreneurial and insurmountable barriers to emerge as a successful businessperson.

Becoming the first woman bank manager of the country and serving in the role for seven years, Rahman went on to explore almost the entire world of finance and business over many years.

Rahman started her own agribusiness in 1980 and diversified her business in many other sectors. For instance, she ventured into media, insurance, real estate and the power sector.

She not only played a pioneering role in paving the way for women entrepreneurs in businesses but was also a source of inspiration and motivation for many businesswomen.

Rahman played a mentorship role for hundreds of women entrepreneurs with financial support and suggestions.

In 1994, the Women Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) of Bangladesh was formed with 150 members and Rokia Afzal Rahman as founder president.

In 1996, Rahman formed the Women in Small Enterprises (WISE) to further promote women in forming small enterprises and industries.

The WEA and the WISE worked to bring about a change in the lives of women and bring empowerment through entrepreneurship development.

Rahman was also the founding president of the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (BFWE), which was launched in 2006.

The business community expressed sincere condolences on her passing.

Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said Rokia Afzal Rahman was a pioneer and a source of inspiration and motivation for many.

"Her death is an irreparable damage for the country," he added.

Rokia Afzal Rahman was a visionary business leader with true humane qualities, said Md Saiful Islam, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), one of the leading business chambers of the country.

In contrast, many people are now materialistic, he said.

Her foresightedness was unparalleled, Islam told The Daily Star over the phone while recalling memories with Rokia Afzal Rahman as a business leader. Rahman was also the president of the MCCI for two terms in 2013 and 2014.

"She embodied values and respect for people, which is rare nowadays," Islam also said.

Rahman played a very vital role in portraying the country's progress before the world during the celebration of the MCCI's 110th anniversary, when she was the MCCI president. The chief guest of the celebrations was former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam.

"Courageous with motherly affection, Rokia apa was a role model for me," said Parveen Mahmud, past chairperson of the Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS). Rahman was a director of the MIDAS.

"In fact, Rokia Apa insisted that I be the then convener of this new platform (when it was formed)," Mahmud added.

Abul Kasem Khan, former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said she was courageous and infused courage into others. Her trademark was her ever-smiling face, he said.

"We will miss her presence and the country has lost a golden daughter," said Khan.

Masud Rahman, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, said she was a pioneer in women entrepreneurship in the country.

"Definitely she inspired a lot of women entrepreneurs. I learnt from her how to think positive," Rahman told The Daily Star over phone.

"She was so caring like a mother or elder sister," said Fazlul Hoque, former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

"I was very much moved hearing the news of her death. It shocked me as she was like a mother to me," he said.

"She was such a caring person, as if she was my family member and always used to inquire about our wellbeing," said Hoque, also a board member of the International Chamber of Commerce – Bangladesh (ICC-B).

"We used to share a lot of thoughts during our board meeting of the ICC-B as she was a vice-president at the time of her death," Hoque said.

AK Azad, vice-president of the ICC-B and former president of the FBCCI, said Rahman was an honest entrepreneur.

"Of course, she had motherly, humane qualities. She never hurt anybody. She was very much an entrepreneur. She had an immense contribution to society," he said.

Rahman also served on the board of BRAC and was chairperson of Banchte Shekha, Jessore, which works for the underprivileged and extremely financially insolvent.

She was also the chairperson of Mini Marts, which are marketing outlets owned and managed by a group of businesswomen to sell a diversified group of items, for the first five years since its inception in 1992.

The retail chain was established to eliminate middlemen with whom women doing business had to share a percentage of their profits.

ASM Mashi-Ur-Rahman, managing director of the MIDAS, said the financial organisation was established to finance the missing middle – those who do not get loans from banks and microfinance institutions.

Rokia Afzal Rahman introduced collateral free loans for women entrepreneurs when banks shied away from financing women entrepreneurs, he said.

"There is no one other than Rokia who has contributed so much for the development of women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh," he said.