An online startup -- maya.com.bd -- has responded to more than one lakh queries and given solutions to legal, social and health problems in the last one year.

The local company that started its journey in March last year provides solutions through an android mobile app and its website. The app—maya apa—uses a question-answer method to reach out to its users.

Maya and some other companies, including Dohatec New Media, Healthprior21, Amar Desh Amar Gram, Windmill Infotech Ltd, SME Foundation, Punoh and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha, showcased their products and services at a daylong event in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh Women in Technology (BWIT) and Microsoft Bangladesh organised the event at Lakeshore Hotel ahead of the International Women's Day tomorrow.

“We know maternal health is a serious issue and a lot of women suffer from various problems,” Ivy Huq Russell, founder of Maya.com.bd, said at the event.

“So we have developed a package to help people get support in voice and written formats.”

Twenty other women entrepreneurs also attended the programme.

Shohoz.com, a leading online ticket-selling platform, showcased its products at the event.

Shohoz.com began its journey two years back, creating a new hype in online business, selling bus and launch tickets as well as booking hotels and selling movie tickets.

“The market is not yet ready as customers do not fully trust online sales,” said Maliha M Quadir, managing director of Shohoz.com.

Luna Shamsuddoha, president of BWIT, chaired the inaugural event, where Sonia Bashir Kabir, managing director of Microsoft Bangladesh and vice president of BWIT, was also present.

“From Microsoft, we want to deliver our services to the 16 crore people of the country. With that aim, we are taking different initiatives to make their lives digital,” said Sonia.

Luna Shamsuddoha, also the chairman of Dohatec New Media, said a good number of women are using technology for their daily lives, but the percentage of women taking initiatives to develop new IT products is low.

At the programme, Rokia Afzal Rahman, president of Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, emphasised the need for establishing a strong network of women entrepreneurs.

Yasoja Gunasekera, Sri Lankan high commissioner in Dhaka; Christine Hunter, country representative of UN Women in Bangladesh, and Ahmadul Hoq Bobby, president of Bangladesh Association of Call Centre and Outsourcing, were also present.