Rokia Afzal Rahman

Rokia Afzal Rahman
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Died	Singapore
Occupation(s)	Banker, businesswoman, government adviser
Known for	First female bank manager in Bangladesh; adviser in caretaker government of Bangladesh (2001)

Rokia Afzal Rahman (circa 1941 – 5 April 2023) was a pioneering Bangladeshi banker and businesswoman, acclaimed as the first female bank manager in Bangladesh. In 2001, she took on the role of adviser within the caretaker government of Bangladesh.

Career

Rahman’s professional journey began in the banking sector, where she remained active until 1980 before transitioning to agro-business enterprises. She founded R.R. Cold Storage Limited, a company focused on the import, export, and storage of potatoes and seeds. Subsequently, she expanded her ventures by acquiring Imaan Cold Storage Ltd.

In 1994, Rahman played a key role as the inaugural president of the Women Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) in Bangladesh, which initially comprised 150 members. Two years later, in 1996, she founded Women in Small Enterprises (WISE) to advance the participation of women in small-scale industries.

Between July and October 2001, she contributed as an adviser in the caretaker government led by Latifur Rahman.

Rahman held the position of chairperson for the Asian University for Women Support Foundation’s board and was instrumental as the founding president of the Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs. Additionally, she chaired MIDAS Financing Limited.

As chairperson of Mediaworld Limited, she managed ownership interests in The Daily Star newspaper and maintained shareholding in ABC Radio.

Her involvement extended to board memberships at several organizations including BRAC, MIDAS, Manusher Jonno, BFF, MRDI, Smiling Sun, and Health21.

Death

On 5 April 2023, Rahman died at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore at the age of 82. She is survived by three children: two sons and one daughter.