On Tuesday, 22 November, 2016 Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) participated at the 415th Social Business Design Lab (open session) held at Grameen Bank Auditorium organized by Yunus Centre. The chair of the event, Nobel Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the event followed by a brief presentation by Ms. Parveen Mahmud (Managing Director, Grameen Telecom Trust) on the updates of the social business projects of GTT. Her presentation ended with a short video documentary on the physically challenged Nobin Udyokta-NU (New Entrepreneur) of GTT commemorating “The International Day of Persons with Disabilities” to be observed on 3 December.

Two (2) female NUs of GTT presented their business proposals at the Design Lab and both of them were highly applauded by all the participants of the house. NU Ms. Shahina Begum, running a cosmetic and tailoring business, was greatly praised for her tremendous determination to support her family and husband who lost all his wealth in a dream to become a migrant labour. On the other hand NU Ms. Sreemoti Rina Rani Roy, running a beauty salon, was appreciated for her being the pioneer in this business in her locality and also for her enthusiasm and hard work for running the salon successfully. Both the entrepreneurs (163rd batch of NU) were from Lalmonirhat district.

In the same design lab the joint venture agreement (JVA) signing ceremony of “Shuvolong”-Safe drinking water social business project in Rangamati, took place as the concluding part of the event. The project is the 2nd social business JVA between GTT and ASHIKA, Mushroom Seed Social Business, being the first. Ms. Parveen Mahmud (Managing Director, Grameen Telecom Trust) and Mr. Biplob Chakma (Executive Director, ASHIKA) signed the Deed of Agreement in the presence of Prof. Muhammad Yunus and others, including managing directors and high officials of Grameen Companies.