Rokia Afzal Rahman

Rokia Afzal Rahman (c. 1941 – 5 April 2023)[1] was a Bangladeshi banker and entrepreneur. She was the first woman bank manager in Bangladesh.[1] She served as one of advisers of the Caretaker government of Bangladesh in 2001.[2][3]

Rokia Afzal Rahman
রোকেয়া আফজাল রহমান
Rahman in 2019
Died (aged 81)
Singapore
NationalityBangladeshi

Career

Rahman worked in the banking sector until 1980. She then started an agro-business, R.R. Cold Storage Limited which was involved in importing and exporting of potatoes and storage of seeds and potatoes.[1] She then bought another agro-business company, Imaan Cold Storage Ltd.[1]

In 1994, Women Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) in Bangladesh was formed with 150 members and Rahman was the founding president.[4] In 1996, she founded Women in Small Enterprises (WISE) to promote the role of women in small enterprises and industries.[1]

Rahman served in the Latifur Rahman ministry from 15 July 2001 to 10 October 2001.[5]

Rahman was the chairman of the board of directors of the Asian University for Women Support Foundation in Bangladesh.[6] She was the founding president of Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs[7][8] and the chairperson of MIDAS Financing Limited.[9]

Rahman was the chairperson of Mediaworld Limited, the holding company of The Daily Star.[8] She used to own shares in ABC Radio.[10]

Rahman was a board member in several organizations including BRAC, MIDAS, Manusher Jonno, BFF, MRDI, Smiling Sun, Health21.[11]

Death

Rahman died at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore on 5 April 2023, at the age of 82.[11] She had two sons and a daughter.[12]

References
  1. "A stalwart supporter of free media, women entrepreneurs". The Daily Star. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. "Opening of Epique Institute". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. "The Daily Star Roundtable". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  4. "Metro open TT". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  5. "Ex-caretaker govt adviser Rokia Afzal dies". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. "Cherie Blair calls for investing in women education". The Daily Star. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  7. "Tackling Graduate Unemployment: The Need For University-industry Cooperation". The Daily Star. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. "Rokia Afzal no more". The Daily Star. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  9. "MIDAS Financing Limited". www.mfl.com.bd. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  10. "Prominent businesswoman Rokeya Afzal no more". daily sun. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  11. "Former caretaker govt adviser Rokia Afzal Rahman passes away". Dhaka Tribune. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  12. "Rokia Afzal Rahman no more". Risingbd Online Bangla News Portal. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
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