Women entrepreneurs also face massive corruption in course of pursuing their business, a survey conducted by Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed.
Finance minister MA Muhith expressed his utter disappointment as the new generation of women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh has not been spared by corrupt elements.
He was speaking at a seminar, organized by Bangladesh Women Cham-ber of Commerce and Industry, where the survey report was released.
US ambassador in Dhaka, James F Moriarty, also spoke at the seminar, presided over by chamber president Selima Ahmed.
The survey of the chamber found that 60 percent women entrepreneurs were made to pay bribes for procuring trade licence.
Research on a group of 300 women entrepreneurs also found that 10 percent of them had to give some kind of gift for a trade licence, 47 percent women entrepreneurs were asked to pay bribe for a tax identification number and 24 percent encountered corruption.
Some 37 percent women entrepreneurs were asked to pay bribe for getting bank loans.
It is really disappointing that the new generation of woman entrepreneurs have to encounter corrupt practices, said Muhith. ‘I am surprised by the level of corruption related ordeals that these women entrepreneurs face.”
He blasted income tax officials as the survey found that tax office was a hub of corruption. ‘It seems that the income tax office is one of the biggest place of corruption.’
The finance minister termed the situation of rampant corruption as a ‘national shame.’ He called for public resistance to get rid of corruption.
US ambassador Moriarty said if the woman entrepreneurs were challenged by corruption the Bangladesh economy would suffer.
BWCCI president Selima Ahmed demanded a flat VAT (Value Added Tax) rate for women-headed enterprises for five years and a special loan facility for women entrepreneurs.
In response to the appeal, the finance minister said the government would consider a flat VAT rate for the women-headed enterprises for five years and urged the banks to open separate desks to deal with the loan issues for women entrepreneurs.
