7,000 digital entrepreneurs emerge in Ctg in pandemic
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
7,000 digital entrepreneurs emerge in Ctg in pandemic

Economy

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury
26 September, 2020, 03:00 pm
Last modified: 26 September, 2020, 04:28 pm

Related News

  • Identify individuals, companies involved in e-commerce scam: HC to govt
  • Ctg likely to see waterlogging this rainy season too
  • E-commerce giant Alibaba keen to promote Bangladeshi goods 
  • Over 6,000 litres of hoarded edible oil seized in Chattogram
  • Lack of public transport, traffic chaos continue to plague Ctg residents

7,000 digital entrepreneurs emerge in Ctg in pandemic

The digital marketplace in the port city of Chittagong is growing daily – riding on buyers’ confidence

Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury
26 September, 2020, 03:00 pm
Last modified: 26 September, 2020, 04:28 pm
7,000 digital entrepreneurs emerge in Ctg in pandemic

Manisha Bosh was a schoolteacher, and the pandemic-led closure of educational institutions in March halted her income. Then she opened Padmalaya BD, a shop, and started selling Manipuri saris online. Manisha has been able to retain her financial solvency through the digital business of womenswear.

Like her, around 7,000 e-commerce entrepreneurs started their businesses in the port city of Chattogram during the pandemic-led general holidays, and 70% of them are women.

These entrepreneurs explored the alternative sources of income by selling products on digital platforms.

Admin of Facebook-based digital e-commerce platform Chattogram E-commerce Family (CEF) Shagar Dey said the group currently has 57,000 members and around 10,000 of them are active.

"Nearly 7,000 entrepreneurs, including women who lost their jobs, began e-commerce businesses during the pandemic. They returned to the driving seats of their respective families after bouncing back as e-commerce entrepreneurs," said Shagar.

He said CEF has organised a number of online programmes for the entrepreneurs and trained 220 persons since April.

The facebook-based digital e-commerce group admins and trainers are also connected to different national-level platforms and lead numerous upazila level sub-groups.

He added, "The ongoing training focuses on keeping product prices affordable without compromising product quality. This has helped create buyers' confidence in the digital marketplace and the market in Chittagong is growing daily."

The new e-commerce entrepreneurs said they post the details of the products from their Facebook accounts and pages. Additionally, these accounts also highlight the details in Facebook-based e-commerce groups.      

Buyers choose and order products from there. The products are then delivered to the customers by delivery persons or courier services. After receiving the items, the customers post reviews in the e-commerce groups – which give the entrepreneurs wide publicity and reliability.

For Manisha, digital sales were a means to starting a business with minimal capital.

"I tried to promote traditional items, and therefore began the business with Manipuri saris of Sylhet. Eid-ul-Fitr-centric sales were the turning point for me," she told The Business Standard.     

Another entrepreneur Farjana Akter, a teacher of Chattogram Cantonment School, said she stepped into the e-commerce business in June with Tk20,000 in capital.  

Digital marketing, especially Facebook-based groups, helped develop my brand quickly. My capital quadrupled within just three months

"Digital marketing, especially Facebook-based groups, helped develop my brand quickly. My capital quadrupled within just three months," she told The Business Standard.

Farjana said the delivery team that now supplies her products previously used to be in ridesharing services.          

In the meantime, the digital marketplace offers a wide variety of products ranging from jewelry items to homemade food. Increasingly, customers are showing interest in the market to avert shopping hassles and save time.       

Jamil Al Faisal's brand Nimrah sells organic food in the online marketplace. Jamil said he and his friends began the business in July with Tk2 lakh. The e-commerce groups supported them to develop the brand.

"Now we have customers all over the country and the profit is rising. Me and my friends are now dreaming about being self-reliant because of the business," he added.

Now we have customers all over the country and the profit is rising

Jamil observed that Facebook-based e-commerce groups are playing a crucial role in creating new entrepreneurs. Many entrepreneurs who lost their jobs due to the virus' fallout are now earning more than Tk1 lakh per month after having connected to the e-commerce platform.               

Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Mahbubul Alam said the type of business changes every ten years. Digital entrepreneurship is exploring new business ventures at a time when other businesses are struggling for survival.  

"Many who previously lost their jobs and livelihoods are reengaging in economic activities. This is contributing to socio-economic development," he noted.

Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Monowara Hakim Ali echoed Mahbubul Alam.

She said many members of the chamber were already involved in e-commerce and new entrepreneurs began digital startups during the pandemic. She added that this will positively affect the economy.

Vice-President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) SM Najer Hossain said the digital market is expanding owing to the need of the hour. However, as there is no policy for e-commerce, there is still a risk that consumers will be deceived.

He believes both entrepreneurs and buyers will benefit if a government policy can guide the online marketplace.

Top News

Digital entrepreneurs / entrepreneurs / CTG / Chattogram / Digital / Chattogram E-commerce Family (CEF) / e-commerce / e-commerce platform / Digital e-commerce platform

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
    Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
  • Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
    Rising revenue collection a false dawn, economists say
  • Why we must resist geoeconomic fragmentation—and how
    Why we must resist geoeconomic fragmentation—and how

MOST VIEWED

  • Inflation jumps to 6.29% in April
    Inflation jumps to 6.29% in April
  • BPC hunts for dollar to import fuel oil
    BPC hunts for dollar to import fuel oil
  • Infographic: TBS
    Businesses reel under soaring costs
  • Representational Image. Photo: Wikipedia
    European buyers back AP Møller-Maersk to run Patenga Container Terminal
  • Representational Image. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Govt to list products to suspend imports amid dollar crisis
  • Bangladesh may face debt distress from 2032: Economic Association  
    Bangladesh may face debt distress from 2032: Economic Association  

Related News

  • Identify individuals, companies involved in e-commerce scam: HC to govt
  • Ctg likely to see waterlogging this rainy season too
  • E-commerce giant Alibaba keen to promote Bangladeshi goods 
  • Over 6,000 litres of hoarded edible oil seized in Chattogram
  • Lack of public transport, traffic chaos continue to plague Ctg residents

Features

Musk is denying the sexual harassment allegation that surfaced this week. Photo: Bloomberg

Elon Musk’s crazily banal week 

14h | Panorama
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED: A touch of brilliance to your life

18h | Brands
Keep your phone by your side with this armband

Keep your phone by your side with this armband

15h | Brands
Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

Are Focallure gel masks worth the hype?

16h | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

Why are Duranta TV shows popular?

10h | Videos
Donbas is hell, says Zelenskiy

Donbas is hell, says Zelenskiy

11h | Videos
Threat of Monkeypox on the horizon

Threat of Monkeypox on the horizon

11h | Videos
Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

Mosque of Mughal period in Gazipur

12h | Videos

Most Read

1
Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge
Bangladesh

Tk100 for bike, Tk2,400 for bus to cross Padma Bridge

2
A packet of US five-dollar bills is inspected at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington March 26, 2015. REUTERS/Gary Cameron
Banking

Dollar hits Tk100 mark in open market

3
Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi
Bangladesh

Bangladesh at risk of losing ownership of Banglar Samriddhi

4
PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire
Crime

PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire

5
BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies
Stocks

BSEC launches probe against Abul Khayer Hero and allies

6
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Habitat

The United House: Living and working inside nature

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab