The Street Food Microenterprises in Bangladesh: Situational Analysis Based on the Trends and Needs

This paper tried to explore the current conditions and future needs of the street food microenterprises in Bangladesh. This paper is entirely shaped by a qualitative approach based on where KII and FGD methods were used for data collection. However, the study reveals that most street food vendors are male proprietors from small and nuclear families, operating self-owned restaurants, fast foods, and taverns. These businesses are predominantly non-AC conditions, with ten to thirty customer capacities. They are located on roadsides, crowded places, and commercial areas, with poor infrastructure and weak plinth conditions. Most enterprises have five to fifteen carts and more than two hundred customers regularly buy food. Entrepreneurs typically get lease permission from landowners, market management, and city corporations, most renting from different authorities. Most entrepreneurs pay a mentionable amount of taka as rent per month. Most entrepreneurs contribute to monthly savings, with ninety percent savings. Most enterprises lack government-registered legal status, but sixty percent are members of homogenous associations. Training initiatives for employees are underrated, and the working environment is unhygienic, unsafe, and not environmentally friendly. The study suggests prioritizing financial assistance, business expansion, and training for the betterment of the enterprises.