Posted On September 11, 2025

PC: https://www.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/women-empowerment-1520873377

As one looks back on Bangladesh’s 50^th year of independence, a lot are to be celebrated; strong macroeconomic fundamentals, burgeoning industries, strong infrastructure projects, foreign remittance by a large strong non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) work force, growing internal middle-class market; all leading to a GDP which was $8.7bln (Current US$) in 1971 to a whopping at $300bln+ today, most of this coming in the last 3 decades, as the country recovered from the tumultuous 1^st two decades. GDP growth rates have accelerated to 7-8% from the 2-4% in the 1^st two decades. The Human Development Index has also moved up in an exemplary fashion, many of which better than its South Asian counterparts.

But behind all these numbers what gets unnoticed are some of the more silent yet discerning social shifts that was behind the underlying move in the dramatic transformation of Bangladesh. They are the unsung protagonists whom we tend to forget and acknowledge, the woman and her role in the society. She has from metamorphosed from driving home economics to now be the driving force of the economy.  

Let me break this down:

• Over the last 30 years, female literacy has moved from 25% to 72% in 2019. One always believes that when you have educated a woman, you have sown the seeds to educate a generation.
• During the same period women married by the age of 15 has toppled to 1/5^th from being almost half. This has led to dramatic reduction in child pregnancy and health care challenges as female mortality has come down to 114/ 1000 from almost 255 during independence.
• Female participation in the labour force has also moved to nearly 39%, highest in South Asia (14%). More than 1 in every 10 households today have a woman as the head of the household.
• The country has been led by women leaders who has been at the helm for nearly the last 30 years as Prime Minister, Speaker of the parliament, leader of the opposition, Presidents of the garment’s association and trade chambers, General in the armed forces. Thousands of women are working shoulder to shoulder in active combat duty in Bangladesh Armed Forces.
• While we acknowledge some of these great achievements, how can we forget the sacrifices made by millions of Bangladesh women in the liberation war. Captain Sitara Begum and Taramon Bibi were conferred with the honour of ‘Bir Protik’ for their outstanding bravery and sacrifice during the Liberation War.

Today the Country is the epitome of women leadership. Very few countries in the world have had such depth of female cerebral power in leadership roles and the progress of the country is evident. Behind these great women are also their forerunners of the likes of Sufia Kamal, Begum Rokeya, Pritlata Wadedar to name a few, who broke the glass ceiling and made the inroads of women leadership. On their shoulders stands this nation today. Ode to all of you for being such an inspiration.

While such inspirations have defined today’s Bangladesh, Corporate Bangladesh falls significantly short on this. While there are some great female leaders, female share in senior and middle management in corporate unfortunately is only at 11.5%, a far cry from what is desired. Much to do for all of us now.

The onus is for us to see how we can change this in the next 50 years, ideally well before that. 

Data Source: World Bank