It is encouraging to note that Bangladesh has ranked first among South Asian countries in terms of gender parity, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Reportedly, with a score of 72.2 per cent, Bangladesh ranked 59th globally, indicating significant progress in achieving gender parity. It needs to be mentioned here that the Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
Women in Bangladesh have set their foothold in every field of work or profession. They are leading from the front in the country’s sustainable development. Half of the population of Bangladesh is women and their economic participation has increased remarkably over the past decade. Representation of girls in high school level is similar to that of boys. But at the higher education level, this scenario is quite discouraging. Therefore, a lot more needs to be done if we want to see our women climbing the socio-economic ladders side by side with their male counterparts.
Being vocal about gender
discrimination and violence
against women has become a
part of our social responsibility
In order to make this country self-reliant, pragmatic measures are needed to be taken to empower women. In this regard, necessary steps should be taken to remove all kinds of barriers and discrimination that prevent women from realizing their full potential. Also, participation of women needs to be enhanced and reinforced in decision making processes.
It is disconcerting to note that still a section of people in our society has a perception that women are less empowered than men. Hitherto rape, sexual harassment, wage discrimination, domestic violence and social discrimination against women are common phenomena in Bangladesh. Still in many spheres of life we encounter gender discrimination.
Therefore, being vocal about gender discrimination and violence against women has become a part of our social responsibility. Women’s contribution to Bangladesh’s progress in different areas is indispensable. In order to sustain the tempo of current progress of Bangladesh, women’s participation in all sectors is inevitable.
