Rokia Afzal recounts her celebrated career

Rokia Afzal Rahman, an illustrious business personality of the country, discussed her glorious career on the ninth episode of Ogroj.

She is the country's first female bank manager and the former advisor to the caretaker government of Bangladesh, who has also been known as the trailblazer of women empowerment in the country.

The ninth episode of IPDC 'OGROJ', which was aired live on IPDC's official Facebook page, presented the narratives of a protagonist who has played an instrumental role in developing Bangladesh's economy while paving the way for women with willpower, said a press release.

Anis A Khan, a prominent figure in the country's banking sector, steered an in-depth conversation with Rokia Afzal Rahman, who, despite all odds, made a mark in what is often thought to be a male-dominated platform.

She shared her diverse experience and initiatives in different sectors like media, insurance, real estate, and the power sector.

Rokia Afzal started her career in a commercial bank in 1962 when very few women had entered the banking sector universally. She became the first woman bank manager of the country in 1964. In 1980, Ms. Rokia ventured into the agro-based industry, where she worked with 15,000 small farmers who needed support during the harvesting season. Her firm commitment to make a difference in the society led her to become the Former Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh in Charge of the Ministry of Women and Children, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Social Welfare, and Ministry of Culture.

She is currently the chairperson of Mediaworld Limited, one of the associates of Transcom group

Actively involved in several associations, Rokia initiated various innovative programs to develop entrepreneurial spirit in women by carrying out surveys to find constraints that women entrepreneurs face and explore potential areas of investment.

She has ensured a wise collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh, and associations like WEA, WISE, BFWE, and several other renowned NGO's where she heads as a board member. She is also the Founder Chairman of Presidency University and former Chairperson of Asian University for Women.

Her noteworthy recognition in international development platforms include her membership of the Business Advisory Council (EBAC) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), and her membership of South Asia Women's Network (SWAN). In 1991, she was awarded Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World in Monte Carlo, Businessperson of the Year in American Chamber, and Priyadarshani Award in India.

Managing Director and CEO of IPDC Finance Limited, Mominul Islam stated, "Through OGROJ, IPDC intends to initiate a digital memoir on the narratives of these protagonists from post-independent Bangladesh. Rokia Afzal Rahman is indeed the epitome of women empowerment who has shown to the world the impact of women leaders and their unparalleled capacity to build institutions and economies successfully."

OGROJ is a webinar series broadcasted live from the official IPDC Facebook page every first and third Thursday of the month. The episodes ruminate both professional and personal peaks and valleys of the guests' lives, with renowned host, Anis A Khan, a well-known banker who retired recently after serving the industry for nearly four decades. Distinctive icons from diverse sectors such as Finance, Economics, Business, Art, Culture, Education, and Media are seen flipping through the pages of their lives on the show. The live show's recorded versions are available on the IPDC Facebook Page and IPDC Official YouTube channel.