SheSTEM, Sheba Partner to Boost Women’s Role in STEM

Online Desk  :   In a move to strengthen the participation of women in Bangladesh’s technology sector, SheSTEM and Sheba Platform Limited have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at creating tangible employment opportunities for female graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The signing ceremony, held at the LightCastle Partners office in Dhaka, marked the official launch of SOLVIO – AI Hackathon, a pioneering initiative under SheSTEM designed to generate 10 full-time jobs, 15 internships, and 15 traineeships for women in STEM fields. “Sheba’s mission to build inclusive digital services naturally aligns with SheSTEM’s goal of empowering...

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Online Desk  :   In a move to strengthen the participation of women in Bangladesh’s technology sector, SheSTEM and Sheba Platform Limited have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at creating tangible employment opportunities for female graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The signing ceremony, held at the LightCastle Partners office in Dhaka, marked the official launch of SOLVIO – AI Hackathon, a pioneering initiative under SheSTEM designed to generate 10 full-time jobs, 15 internships, and 15 traineeships for women in STEM fields.

“Sheba’s mission to build inclusive digital services naturally aligns with SheSTEM’s goal of empowering women through education and employment,” said Adnan Imtiaz Halim, Founder and CEO of Sheba Platform Limited. “We believe these young women will bring fresh perspectives to the technology sector and help shape Bangladesh’s digital future.” Sheba Platform Limited, one of the country’s leading digital service providers, delivers home and office solutions using technology and is increasingly focusing on inclusivity in its recruitment and innovation strategies.

SheSTEM, a multi-year initiative funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is implemented by a consortium that includes 10 Minute School, a2i, LightCastle Partners, DevLearn Consulting, and Policy Exchange Bangladesh. The program focuses on equipping female STEM graduates with job-ready skills, industry exposure, and mentorship. Although women make up 21% of STEM graduates in Bangladesh, fewer than 1% are employed in related fields—a statistic often described as evidence of a “leaky pipeline.” Experts say social barriers, lack of industry linkage, and limited hands-on experience are key contributors to this dropout rate.

“This partnership is a step toward reversing that trend,” said Bijon Islam, CEO of LightCastle Partners. “It connects education with employment, ensuring that women who have the talent and training also receive the opportunities they deserve.” The MoU is expected to foster a more structured collaboration between academic institutions and the private sector, offering a replicable model for future efforts to address gender disparity in the workforce. Other attendees at the ceremony included Mohammad Ilmul (Sajib) Haque, Co-Founder of Sheba Platform; Mashrur Rahim Sadat, Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations at Sheba; and Omar Farhan Khan, Project Manager and Senior Consultant at LightCastle.

The SOLVIO Hackathon will serve as both a recruitment pipeline and a skills development platform, with participating women working on real-world artificial intelligence (AI) projects. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and implement its Smart Bangladesh 2041 vision, stakeholders agree that increased female participation in STEM is not just beneficial, but essential. “This collaboration shows what’s possible when purpose-driven organizations work together,” said SheSTEM’s Project Manager. “We are not only creating jobs—we are building a more inclusive economy.”

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