{{Short description|Bangladeshi entrepreneur (1953–2021)}} {{Infobox person | name = Luna Shamsuddoha | native_name = লুনা সামসুদ্দোহা | native_name_lang = bn | image = Luna Shamsuddoha (4) (cropped).jpg | birth_date = {{birth-date|4 October 1953}} | birth_place = Dhaka, Bangladesh | death_date = {{death date and age|2021|2|17|1953|10|04|df=y}} | death_place = Singapore | occupation = IT entrepreneur, business leader | education = Master's degree in International Relations | alma_mater = University of Dhaka | organization = Bangladesh Women in IT (BWIT) | title = Chairman of Dohatec New Media and Janata Bank Limited | boards = Independent University Bangladesh, Janata Bank Limited, SME Foundation | spouse = A. K. M. Shamsuddoha | children = 1 | awards = Bangladesh Business Award (2017), Outstanding Woman in Business (2017), Anannya Top Ten Awards (2013) }}
'''Luna Shamsuddoha''' (4 October 1953 – 17 February 2021) was a Bangladeshi entrepreneur and business leader. She was the founder and chairman of the software firm Dohatec New Media, based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which she established in 1992. She was the first woman to head any state-owned bank in Bangladesh and served as the chairman of state-owned Janata Bank Limited.<ref>{{cite news |title=Luna Shamsuddoha joins state-owned Janata Bank as first ever female chairman |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/banks/2018/03/01/luna-shamsuddoha-joins-janata-bank-chairman/ |accessdate=2 March 2018 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref>
She was also the founder and president of Bangladesh Women in Technology (BWIT).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bwit-bd.com/prof_luna_shamsuddoha.php |title=BWIT |website=bwit-bd.com}}</ref> In recognition of her contribution to the national economy, she received the Bangladesh Business Award in 2017 and was honored with the Anannya Top Ten Awards for her work in the local software industry as a woman entrepreneur.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 May 2017 |title=Luna gets 'Bangladesh Business Award' |work=Daily Sun |url=http://www.daily-sun.com/printversion/details/224810/Luna-gets-%E2%80%98Bangladesh-Business-Award%E2%80%99}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/business/article/60894/Luna-Shamsuddoha-receives-Bangladesh-Business-Award-2017 |title=Luna Shamsuddoha receives Bangladesh Business Award 2017 |work=banglanews24.com}}</ref>
Shamsuddoha served as a board member of the SME Foundation and Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), and as a director of state-owned Agrani Bank Limited and Janata Bank Limited. She was featured at global forums on technology, e-governance, and women's economic participation and empowerment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thewisteriagroup.com/spotlight-on-women-in-business-an-interview-with-dohatecs-luna-shamsuddoha/ |title=Spotlight on Women in Business: An Interview with Dohatec's Luna Shamsuddoha}}</ref> She was a member of the Council of Global Thought Leaders on Inclusive Growth, Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://brac.manthanaward.org/dt_team/luna-shamsuddoha/ |title=BRAC - Luna Shamsuddoha |website=brac.manthanaward.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sdasia.co/2015/05/10/innovative-women-entrepreneur-luna-shamsuddoha/ |title=Innovative Women Entrepreneur: Luna Shamsuddoha |first=Tasnuba |last=Sinha |date=10 May 2015 |access-date=7 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180104/https://sdasia.co/2015/05/10/innovative-women-entrepreneur-luna-shamsuddoha/ |archive-date=2 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Shamsuddoha was born on 4 October 1953 in Dhaka to Lutfar Rahman and Hasina Rahman. She obtained her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College and her Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) from Holy Cross College.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=First state-owned bank woman chairman of Bangladesh |magazine=Janata Bank Limited bulletin |issue=5th year, 1st issue |publisher=Janata Bank Limited |location=Dhaka |page=3 |language=bn}}</ref> She earned a master's degree in international relations from the University of Dhaka.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jb.com.bd/about_us/board_of_directors |title=Janata Bank Board of Directors |last=Wahed |first=Maruf & |website=jb.com.bd |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>
==Career== Shamsuddoha began her professional career as a consultant in 1978. In 1985, she entered business as the managing partner of The Executive Center. Prior to this, she worked as an English language teacher at the British Council Language Resource Center and as a lecturer in English at the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
She founded Dohatec New Media in 1992 and worked with the company until her death.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Dohatec is an independent software vendor and system integrator that provides software solutions to institutions, government agencies, and corporations in North America, Europe, and Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local software firms need public patrons to tap into potentials |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/tribune-supplements/business-tribune/2017/08/12/local-software-firms-need-public-patrons-tap-potentials/ |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref> The company's key clients include the World Bank, World Health Organization, the US Postal Service, the Government of Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Army. Dohatec also functions as a certifying authority and issues digital certificates, including identification certificates and SSL certificates.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Shamsuddoha was a panelist in two sessions of the UN 59th Commission on the Status of Women and served as a moderator of an online discussion for UN Women. She also participated in the UN ITC Trailblazers Summit: Transformations in Sourcing from Women, held in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2015, which focused on the inclusion of women in public procurement.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
==Personal life== Luna Shamsuddoha was married to A. K. M. Shamsuddoha, a businessman. The couple had one daughter.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:লুনা শামসুদ্দোহা: দেশের প্রথম রাষ্ট্রায়ত্ত ব্যাংকের নারী চেয়ারম্যান |trans-title=Luna Shamsuddoha: The country's first woman chairman of a state-owned bank |date=4 March 2018 |work=Ei Samay |volume=5 |issue=8 |page=15 |language=bn}}</ref>
==Awards== * Bangladesh Business Award, 2017 * Outstanding Woman in Business, 2017<ref>{{cite news |title=Luna becomes 1st ever woman chairman of state-owned bank |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/business/luna-shamsuddoha-becomes-1st-ever-woman-chairman-state-owned-janata-bank-in-bangladesh-1541551 |accessdate=2 March 2018 |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> * Honorary Special Recognition Award by Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN), 2013<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news/luna-shamsuddoha-presented-with-the-gwiin-honorary-award-in-sweden |title=Luna Shamsuddoha presented with the GWIIN Honorary Award in Sweden |work=The Daily Star |date=11 December 2013}}</ref> * Anannya Top Ten Awards (2013)
==Death== Shamsuddoha died on 17 February 2021 while undergoing cancer treatment at a hospital in Singapore, at the age of 67.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-17 |title=Software entrepreneur Luna Shamsuddoha passes away |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/software-entrepreneur-luna-shamsuddoha-passes-away-2046489 |access-date=2021-02-17 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-17 |title=Luna Shamsuddoha no more |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/obituary/2021/02/17/luna-shamsuddoha-no-more |access-date=2021-02-17 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Luna Shamsuddoha, a tech entrepreneur, dies |url=https://bdnews24.com/technology/luna-shamsuddoha-a-tech-entrepreneur-dies |access-date=2021-02-17 |work=bdnews24.com |date=17 February 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shamsuddoha, Luna}} Category:1953 births Category:2021 deaths Category:People from Dhaka Category:Holy Cross College, Dhaka alumni Category:Viqarunnisa Noon School and College alumni Category:University of Dhaka alumni Category:Bangladeshi businesspeople