Photo: BSS

DHAKA, March 29, 2025 (BSS) – Kakoli and Fahmida are very close friend.  Both of them were students of Mass Communication and Journalism Department at Dhaka University. In 1996, they met each other and since then wonderful friendship developed between them.
Their joint venture, "Olo Soi," has further strengthened their bond deepening their joint  collaboration.

After completing studies, Kakoli started teaching at UDA University’s Mass Communication and Journalism department. However, due to health issues, she could not continue her job.  But Kakolo belonged a dedicated mindset for doing something better.   
Encouraged by her husband and family, she started an online business, 'Saveri’s Clothing Line', which quickly gained ground over the years, prioritising home-made sarees.

"My online saree business was doing well, with nearly ten thousand followers on my page. I was receiving a positive response from buyers," said Kakoli. "But I wanted to expand my business further."

Fahmida, a journalist by profession, also wanted to explore business opportunities alongside journalism. From this shared vision, their joint venture, "Olo Soi," was born. Now, They have well-decorated showroom, which was developed with artistic beauty at city’s Lalmatia area.  
When asked about the sarees available in their showroom, Kakoli said, "We mainly sell handloom, Manipuri, Jamdani, Khadi, Linen, and Matka sarees. Our primary goal is to expand the market of locally made sarees."

According to Kakoli, in previous years, cotton, linen, and Matka sarees were in high demand.

They aim to bring Bangladesh’s exquisite handloom motifs and designs to customers of home and abroad. Alongwith serving the local market, they also sell sarees abroad through their connections.

"We have already shipped sarees overseas multiple times," Kakoli said.

She noted that Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East have a high demand for traditional sarees.

Bengali women worldwide cherish Bangladeshi sarees because they are handcrafted by skilled artisans, making each piece unique. Jamdani and Manipuri sarees, in particular, are cultural heritage pieces and remain highly sought after.

To make their products easily accessible, "Olo Soi" sells sarees both online apart from physical showroom.

Fahmida’s passion for sarees inspired her to venture into the business. "We primarily focus on Bangladeshi sarees," she said.

"We source our sarees from local vendors in Tangail, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Sirajganj," Fahmida explained. "Our goal is to establish 'Olo Soi' as a recognized brand in the local market."

According to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) survey, women constitute 31.6% of all entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, ranking sixth among 54 countries. The survey also indicates that women in low-income economies often turn to entrepreneurship out of necessity and capitalize on available business opportunities.

Recent data shows that Bangladesh has around one million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and approximately 6.8 million cottage industries, of which 7.21% are run by women entrepreneurs.

In the socio-economic context of Bangladesh, women are proving that they can not only secure jobs but also create employment opportunities for others through entrepreneurship.

Kakoli and Fahmida have chosen this path, empowering not only themselves but also other women.

Kakoli believes that with proper marketing and export strategies, Bangladeshi handloom sarees can gain greater global recognition and contribute significantly to the country’s economy.

More than just a business, "Olo Soi" stands as a unique testament to women’s empowerment.