A film launching ceremony of Swiss Agency : The Rasheda Trust: A woman's success story

Rasheda Begum, once fighting with poverty, is today a respected and well-known entrepreneur far beyond the region of Modukhali in Bangladesh. She became solvent thanks to tireless work and her good instinct for business. Back in the eighties, Rasheda's family lived in extreme poverty. The only cash income came from Rasheda's husband Ali, who worked for a pittance as a labourer. When the government officials came to the village and offered the first micro credits, Rasheda saw her chance. With her first micro credit she bought 20 square meters of land and started a tree nursery.

Until now, neither setback due to flooding and drought, nor ruthless business practices from the commercial banks or extortionate rates of interests from money-lenders, could slow her down.

Her children went to school. Her living situation improved. All is well, but not quite - There are still village leaders, who complain about Rasheda Begum's success, her two oldest girls didn't get their high school diploma, the oldest son dropped out of school and the bank is demanding payment of a credit, or else.

This is the story of 'The Rasheda Trust,' a film by Jurg Neuenschwander in collaboration with Razia Quadir, - a success story, which shows the stages of development and the daily routine of the entrepreneur Rasheda Begum, who rose from nothing and holds her ground in a male dominate world.

The launching ceremony of the film was held on June 7 at Drik Gallery at 5:00pm oragnised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Rokia Afzal Rahman, former adviser to the Caretaker government, inaugurated the launching ceremony as chief guest, while Dr Dora Rapold, Ambassador of Switzerland, Razia Quadir, Coordinator of the film, Rasheda Begum, the central character of the film, among others, were present on the occasion.

'The Rasheda Trust' shows ups and downs of the Bangladeshi entrepreneur Rasheda Begum, who rose from nothing and holds her ground in a male dominated world.

The success story of Rasheda, filmed in Bangladesh between 1993 and 2005 surprising and entertaining.

After the discussion, the film was presented in the Drik Gallery.

Meanwhile, it is memtioned that in the film, an interview with the Nobel peace prize winner Prof Md Yunus was included.

The Rasheda Trust - at a glance

Duration: 52 minutes.

Language: Bengali.

Subtitles: English, German and French.

Director: Jurg Neuenschwander, in collaboration with Razia Quadir.

Cinematographer: Pierre Mennel, Peter Hammann and Oliver Wills.

Sound Engineer: Ingrid Stadeli.

Film Editor: Regina Bartschi and Eliane Schott.

Sound Mixing: Peter Von Siebenthal.

Technical Director: Manuel Schupfer.

Production Manager: Anna Fanzun.

Producer: Jurg Neuenschwander.

Production: Container Film INC, Zinggstrasse 16, CH 3000 Berne 23, and +413711042.

Cooperation: Nargis Akhter, Farhana Khandaker, Rebecca Siegfried, Cornelia Jost and Mohammad Hannan.

Set Photographer: Hasan Saifuddin Chandan and Farhana Khandakar.

Co-producer: Schweizer Ferns-ehen SF, Dharitri, Media and Communication.

Colour Matching: Peter Guyer.

Translation: Dhoritri, Media and Communication and Swiss Bangladesh Cultural Club.