Two-day platform celebrating women’s economic leadership concludes

IPDC Finance PLC. participated as a main sponsor in the Women Summit & Exhibition 2026, organized by Power of She, held on 9 and 10 May 2026 at Elite Convention Hall, Gulshan, Dhaka. The two-day event highlighted women’s role and importance in the national economy, under the theme “Women’s Role and Importance in the National Economy” and the rallying slogan “She Leads, She Shines.”

The summit opened on 9 May with an exhibition moderated by media personality Naima Care. Power of She Trust Chairman Sabina Saby, fashion consultant and heritage textile expert SK Saifur Rahman, and Power of She Trust General Secretary Raisul Hoque Chowdhury delivered welcome remarks.

The event featured dialogue sessions on physical health, mental health, entrepreneurship, and the economy, alongside a masterclass on women’s entrepreneurship conducted by Sifat Sarwar, Co-Founder of ShopUp. A highlight of the event was the ‘Uddokta Hunt’ competition, where emerging student entrepreneurs pitched their business plans and were paired with new female entrepreneur stalls, giving them hands-on experience in sales and customer management.

The best performer, Jannati Eva, a student of Stamford University Bangladesh, received a cash prize of BDT 20,000 to launch her venture. The event also included a 38-stall exhibition spotlighting local craftsmanship and businesses, with complementary stalls provided for new entrepreneurs, acid survivors, and the third gender community.

Dialogue sessions featured prominent speakers including fashion designer Bibi Russell, Lipi Khandokar, Mamun Rashid, and other distinguished guests. The masterclass was conducted by Sifat Sarwar, Co-Founder of ShopUp.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Financial Officer Fahmida Khan, IPDC Finance PLC., said: “Women’s economic participation is not just a development agenda, it is central to how we think about financial inclusion at IPDC. Platforms like the Women Summit create real connections between aspiration and opportunity, and we are proud to have been part of it.”

IPDC Finance PLC.’s sponsorship of this event is consistent with its strategic commitment to Women Banking and CMSME development, reflecting a broader effort to support initiatives that expand economic opportunities for women across Bangladesh.