Daraz Affiliate Programme Empowers Youth
DHAKA, July 23, 2026 — As Bangladesh grapples with rising graduate unemployment and a rapidly evolving job market, affiliate marketing is emerging as a viable pathway to financial independence for thousands of young people. Backed by the country's expanding digital economy, the Daraz Affiliate Programme is enabling students, professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs to build sustainable careers without the capital requirements of conventional businesses.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), more than 906,000 university graduates were unemployed in 2023, while youth unemployment reached 9.39% and graduate unemployment 13.5% in 2025. Against this backdrop, many young Bangladeshis are increasingly embracing digital professions such as freelancing, content creation and affiliate marketing.
Bangladesh is already home to more than 650,000 freelancers, generating over US$500 million in annual foreign earnings. Meanwhile, Statista estimates the country's influencer marketing industry was worth US$35.23 million in 2025 and is projected to grow to US$48.71 million by 2029, highlighting the expanding opportunities within the creator economy.
Among the platforms driving this digital transformation is the Daraz Affiliate Programme, which has grown into one of Bangladesh's largest affiliate ecosystems. More than 53,000 individuals and brands have joined the programme, with over 10,000 active affiliates participating every month.
The programme allows affiliates to earn commissions by promoting products from Daraz's marketplace, which features more than 50,000 active sellers and over 23 million products across categories including electronics, fashion, beauty and household essentials.
The programme has transformed the lives of many young Bangladeshis, including Bikram Mukherjee from Jashore, Md. Shihab Uddin from Noakhali and Md. Shakil Mia from Sylhet.
Bikram joined the programme in late 2022 while pursuing his Master's degree after being introduced by a friend. His first successful referral earned him Tk 2,400, but the income gradually grew into a stable source of earnings.
"I never imagined this journey would take me this far," Bikram said. "Today I've built a house worth around Tk 15 lakh. Although part of it was financed through a loan, I'm repaying it through my affiliate income."
Shihab began affiliate marketing while working a full-time job. After learning about the programme through YouTube and observing product-sharing communities on Facebook, he joined in early 2023 as a side hustle.
As his monthly earnings consistently exceeded Tk 50,000, he left his conventional job to become a full-time affiliate marketer.
"The biggest advantage is flexibility," Shihab said. "I work from home, spend more time with my family and manage my own schedule. That freedom gave me the confidence to make affiliate marketing my profession."
Shakil discovered affiliate marketing while studying at Sreemangal Government College. After learning about the programme through Facebook and YouTube, he made his first successful sale on January 17, 2023.
Although his first commission was modest, he earned around Tk 15,000 during his first month. Today, he earns approximately Tk 50,000 monthly, while earnings during major promotional campaigns have reached Tk 150,000.
His affiliate income has enabled him to purchase a motorcycle, buy land and contribute to his family's financial wellbeing.
Beyond income generation, the affiliate programme is helping participants develop practical skills in digital marketing, audience engagement, content creation and online community management.
Bikram promotes products across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Telegram, while Shihab primarily reaches customers through Telegram, WhatsApp and Facebook Reels. Shakil has built a Facebook community of nearly 400,000 members, alongside a YouTube channel and Telegram group, with Facebook generating the majority of his affiliate sales.
All three affiliates said they deliberately chose Daraz because promoting products for Bangladeshi consumers makes it easier to communicate in the local language, understand customer preferences and build trust.
"Working with local customers is much easier," Bikram said. "There are no language barriers or time zone differences, and whenever I need support, I can communicate directly with the Daraz team."
Shihab echoed the sentiment, noting that Bangladeshi consumers are already familiar with the Daraz brand, making it easier to establish credibility and encourage purchases.
Ben Yi, Chief Commercial Officer of Daraz Group and Managing Director of Daraz Bangladesh, believes Bangladesh's online retail sector still has significant room for expansion.
"Online retail currently accounts for only around 2 to 3% of total retail in Bangladesh. With continued improvements in consumer trust, logistics and digital adoption, the country has the potential to reach double-digit e-commerce penetration in the coming years," he said.
As Bangladesh's digital economy continues to expand, affiliate marketing is becoming more than a supplementary source of income. It is increasingly serving as a gateway to entrepreneurship, financial independence and career development for young people seeking alternatives to conventional employment.
The experiences of Bikram Mukherjee, Md. Shihab Uddin and Md. Shakil Mia illustrate how digital skills, trusted online communities and creator-led commerce can be transformed into sustainable careers, positioning affiliate marketing as an emerging pillar of Bangladesh's growing digital economy.
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