Around 20 percent of social enterprises in Bangladesh are led by women, according to a survey.

The British Council today unveiled the survey report titled 'The State of Social Enterprise in Bangladesh'.

According to the survey, women leadership and empowerment in social enterprises are significantly higher than in mainstream businesses in Bangladesh which are led by only five percent women.

Women in social enterprises also make up for 41 percent of the full-time workforce, more than double the participation rate for women in general workforce, the report also revealed.

"The report attempts for the first time to understand the scale of social enterprise activity in Bangladesh as well as the sectors in which social enterprises are focused and the beneficiaries that they support," said Jim Scarth Obe, deputy director of British Council, Bangladesh.

The survey findings also revealed that most Bangladeshi social enterprises are young and so are their leaders, with 77 percent of the ventures registered between 2009 and 2016 and most leaders aged below 35.

The British Council launched two new survey reports today on Bangladeshi social enterprises. The study was led by Overseas Development Institute with support from BetterStories Limited, UnLtd and Social Enterprise UK.

The second report titled 'Social Enterprise Policy Landscape in Bangladesh' surveys the existing environment for social enterprises in the country. The study focuses on government activities that influence social enterprise and also compiles suggestions from government and sector stakeholders.

Speakers at the programme said that social enterprise is a growing and dynamic sector of the Bangladesh economy. It is creating jobs for disadvantaged groups, empowering women, and addressing social exclusion across the country.

Minhaz Anwar, managing director of BetterStories Limited presented the survey reports. Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau Md Ashadul Islam also spoke among others at the programme.