Sadia Haque Becomes First Bangladeshi UN Trade Advocate
Sadia Haque, the co-founder and CEO of ShareTrip, has achieved a historic first for Bangladesh. The UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) appointed her as an eTrade for Women Advocate for South Asia. She is the first Bangladeshi woman to receive this important role. Her term will run from 2026 to 2027.
The eTrade for Women initiative selects a small group of women business leaders worldwide. These leaders represent the interests of women digital entrepreneurs. They bring their concerns to discussions with governments and regulators. Past advocates have come from countries like Kenya, Egypt, and India.
In her new role, Ms. Haque will speak for women-led digital businesses in South Asia. She will take part in talks about digital trade and the digital economy. She will also help with the initiative’s Masterclasses and community programs in the region. UNCTAD will formally announce her designation in Geneva in September.
Ms. Haque expressed her honor to take on this position. She noted that South Asia’s digital economy offers new chances for women entrepreneurs. She knows that building a technology business needs more than just a good idea. It requires access to networks, money, knowledge, and a system that supports women leaders. She hopes to use this platform to share the experiences of women entrepreneurs. This will help make the path easier for future women leaders.
Under her leadership, ShareTrip introduced key features to Bangladesh. These included automatic refunds, date changes, and cancellations. These services were new to the Bangladeshi market at that time. ShareTrip also built the country’s largest inventory of domestic hotels and resorts. This brought many local properties online for the first time.
ShareTrip became the first “superbrand” in the travel sector. It has also won awards at the World Travel Awards for six years straight, starting in 2018. Ms. Haque herself has received several major honors. These include “Women Leader of the Year” in 2023 and “ICT Woman of the Year” in 2024. She was also named “Outstanding Woman in Business” in 2025.
