News Flash
DHAKA, Mar 9, 2025 (BSS) – Speakers at a webinar today said that in order to eliminate gender disparity, it is imperative to focus particularly on boosting women’s participation in the economic sector.
They also noted that Bangladesh has made commendable achievements in ensuring that women receive their rightful share in education and healthcare.
However, when it comes to women's participation in the economy, the country lags behind most nations.
The speakers made the observations as panelists at an online panel discussion titled “Women’s Participation in Bangladesh’s Economy: A Review of Recent Trends,” organized by the private research organization Unnayan Shamannay, said a press release.
The webinar, held on the occasion of International Women’s Day, featured a diverse group of panelists including women’s rights activists, labor organizers, economists, university faculty and students, as well as representatives from civil society.
Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director at BIISS and Economist, emphasized that it is crucial to ensure from the outset that women have a greater share in the emerging sectors of the economy.
He also stressed the need to address the various challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
Taslima Akhter, president of the Garment Workers’ Solidarity and a member of the Labor Reforms Commission, pointed out that the argument often made that Bangladesh’s small economy cannot place much emphasis on women’s economic empowerment is flawed.
She further noted that many lower middle-income countries, such as Bolivia, Benin, and Nepal, have made significant strides in empowering women economically.
Thus, she believes that with proper investment and a shift in social perspectives, Bangladesh can also accelerate women’s economic empowerment.
During the presentation of the keynote, Unnayan Shamannay’s Research Officer Aroni Haque stated that although 27 to 34 percent of the national budget in recent fiscal years was allocated for gender equality measures, this expenditure is yet to a desired impact on increasing women’s participation in the economy.
She noted that even though the participation of women in the workforce has grown, most women remain employed in low-wage jobs. Consequently, between 2017 and 2022, the average wage for women has declined by 9 percent.
Umme Farhana, Associate Professor in the English Department at the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, explained that when choosing a profession or job, women must consider not only the economic gains or losses but also many other factors.
She further argued that the obstacles to obtaining employment far outweigh the salary benefits, for which educated middle-class women often opt not to seek jobs.
In contrast, young women from extremely impoverished families sometimes forgo higher-paying opportunities in the fields in favor of domestic work.
Dr. Fatema Sultana Suva, Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Jagannath University, explained that such decisions are influenced by the belief that fieldwork may darken one’s skin, thereby reducing marriage prospects.
Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor in the Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka, and Zahid Rahman, Member Secretary of the National Char Alliance were also present as panelists.
In his closing remarks, Abdullah Nadvi, Research Director of Unnayan Shamannay, stated that in Bangladesh, men are leaving the agricultural sector in pursuit of higher incomes by moving into the industrial and service sectors. Meanwhile, women are helping to fill the void created in agriculture.
Therefore, to maintain overall economic balance, it is essential to recognize these contributions and ensure that women also equally benefit from economic progress.
