A woman entrepreneur with a vision

Zohra Begum supervising fine groove work on a piece of wood to make a decorated door pane. PHOTO: STAR

She produces export quality door panes, window frame, grooved and fashionable household and office furniture, sign board and decorated wooden items.

She hopes to start export soon. Her products are of international standard but cheaper because of lesser labour cost, she says.

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"I Malaysia can export, who not we? My products are not inferior to the furniture imported from Malaysia", she said.

She supplies wood products in other districts and has four showrooms in Dhaka, Sylhet, Bogra and Rajshahi. The demand is increasing day buy day, she said.

"I saw Malaysian furniture in Dhaka some years back. I thought I can also produce such furniture", she told this correspondent during a recent visit to her Jony Auto Door and Furniture at Hashem Bazar along the Gaibandha-Sunderganj road, three kilometres from the town.

Ignoring obstacles from the family, Zohra had started with a backyard workshop with two craftsmen and a capital of Tk 5000 in 2000. He capital has increased to Tk 14 lakh. All the items are now produced by using sophisticated machinery in her modern workshop.

She now employs 60 people including technicians and carpenters. "Despite this, I can not meet the demand from clients", she said.

After passing the Secondary Schools Certificate (SSC) examination, Zohra attended a training course on small and cottage industry, provided by Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) in 2000 and decided to set up a wood workshop.

"After some days I realised that this is a viable industry antook a loan of Tk one lakh from Islami Bank".

Honesty is the key to my success, she said. We unable to supply of furniture as per demand. I have with me at least 25 different attractive designs of main door panes.

"I never use artificial wood. I always use natural timber and make those moisture free by keeping those in a dry chamber. Such processed wood is never damaged by woodworm, she added.

"I have offers to set up industry in Dhaka and Selhet but I refused. I want to employ people in my area", she said.

"My product are not beyond the purchasing capacity of middle class people. Price of a single door is Tk 5,000 to Tk 5,500 whereas a similar product costs Tk 9,000 in Dhaka or Selhet.

Her husband AJM Saleheen is a banker.

"It is really hard for a woman to set up an industry in out society. But my husband extends all possible cooperation to me" she said.

She said she is hopeful that women will come forward in large numbers in entrepreneurship.