Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon women to actively engage in nation-building and societal advancement alongside men during a discussion and Joyeeta Award ceremony in Dhaka, commemorating International Women’s Day 2024. She stressed the pivotal role of women’s involvement, asserting that society’s full development is unattainable without their participation.
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Prime Minister Hasina underscored her government’s endeavors to uphold equal rights for women, citing initiatives aimed at fostering opportunities and acknowledging women’s significant contributions across various domains, including labor. Furthermore, she lauded the longstanding commitment of the Bangladesh Awami League to gender parity and highlighted the pioneering efforts of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in securing constitutional rights for women.
“We can move forward only if men and women work equally. Today, we are moving forward because we have ensured (women’s participation) this,”
– PM Sheikh Hasina
Benefits of Gender Equality
Equal participation of men and women in nation-building yields multifaceted benefits.
Firstly, it harnesses the entirety of a nation’s talent pool, maximizing innovation, problem-solving, and productivity. With diverse perspectives, solutions become more comprehensive and sustainable, addressing a wider range of societal needs.
Secondly, it fosters social cohesion and stability by promoting inclusivity and reducing discrimination. This creates a more harmonious society, crucial for sustained development.
Additionally, when both genders contribute equally, it sets positive role models for future generations, breaking stereotypes and inspiring all individuals to pursue their aspirations regardless of gender. Economically, it enhances competitiveness and resilience as industries benefit from a diverse workforce.
Moreover, it correlates with improved health and education outcomes as resources are allocated more effectively. Politically, it strengthens democracy, ensuring policies reflect the needs of all citizens.
Overall, equal participation of men and women in nation-building cultivates a stronger, more vibrant society, capable of facing challenges and seizing opportunities in an ever-changing world.
Bangladesh’s Gender Parity Progress
The released Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) reveals that Bangladesh stands out as the leading performer in South Asia concerning gender parity. With a score of 72.2%, Bangladesh holds the 59th position globally, showcasing significant advancements across various sectors.
A notable achievement for Bangladesh is evident in the Political Empowerment subindex, where it ranks seventh globally, achieving 55.2% gender parity. Notably, Bangladesh has seen a woman head of state for 29.3 years out of the last 50 years, marking the longest duration globally. Nevertheless, the country still grapples with low representation of women in ministerial positions (10%) and parliamentary positions (20.9%).
Regarding Health and Survival, Bangladesh demonstrates parity in sex ratios at birth, with a score of 96.2%. However, there’s been a noted decline in gender parity in healthy life expectancy, as men’s life expectancy has been increasing at a faster rate than that of women since the 2020 edition of the report.
The Educational Attainment subindex indicates that Bangladesh has achieved a parity score of 93.6%. The nation has made significant strides in improving literacy rates and boosting enrollment in secondary and tertiary education over the past decade. Although there’s now full parity in enrollment in secondary education, gaps persist in literacy rates and enrollment in tertiary education.
Bangladesh’s performance in the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex ranks relatively low globally, standing at 139th with a parity score of 43.8%. However, this marks a rebound from its 2020 parity level. The report attributes this recovery partly to improvements in estimated earned income since the 2021 edition, although disparities across other indicators remain largely unchanged.
Bangladesh’s journey toward gender parity is marked by continuous progress in political empowerment. The country’s strides in this area, coupled with its strong parity scores across various subindexes, contribute to its leading position in South Asia. However, there are still areas necessitating attention, such as enhancing women’s representation in decision-making roles and addressing disparities in economic participation.
Govt’s Initiative to Combat Gender Inequality in Bangladesh
Govt has taken various steps to remove gender inequality in Bangladesh over the years. Some of these are mentioned below;
Women’s Reservation in Parliament:
The present government implemented a groundbreaking policy, reserving 50 seats for women in the Bangladesh Parliament. This initiative significantly boosted women’s representation in politics, enhancing their voice in decision-making processes. As of 2021, Bangladesh ranked 50th globally in terms of women’s political empowerment.
Empowerment Through Education:
Under Hasina’s leadership, Bangladesh has made significant strides in girls’ education. Initiatives such as stipends for female students, free textbooks, and programs to prevent dropouts have increased school enrollment rates for girls. The literacy rate among females rose from 47.57% in 2008 to 74.70% in 2021.
According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, the literacy rate of Bangladesh stood at 74.66% in 2022, marking a significant rise from the 51.77% recorded in the 2011 Census. This indicates a substantial increase of 23.11% in literacy rate over the span of a decade.
Economic Empowerment:
Govt. prioritized women’s economic participation, launching various programs to facilitate entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. Microfinance schemes, vocational training, and access to credit facilities have enabled women to start their businesses, reducing their dependency and enhancing their financial independence.
Legal Reforms for Women’s Rights:
The government enacted laws to protect women’s rights and combat gender-based violence. Amendments to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 enhanced penalties for offenses like acid violence and dowry-related abuse, ensuring stricter punishment for perpetrators.
Healthcare and Family Planning:
Hasina’s administration has focused on improving maternal and child health, increasing access to healthcare services, and promoting family planning. Initiatives like the Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Development Program have contributed to a decline in maternal mortality rates and improved reproductive health services for women.
Sheikh Hasina’s multifaceted approach emphasizes Bangladesh’s commitment to addressing gender inequality and fostering women’s empowerment. These initiatives have not only transformed the lives of women but also propelled Bangladesh towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality.
South Asia’s Gender Parity Scenario
The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 also illuminates the status of gender parity in South Asia. Currently, South Asia ranks second-lowest among the eight regions, with a gender parity score of 63.4%. Although there has been a 1.1 percentage-point improvement since the previous edition, the report underscores that at the current pace, it will take 149 years to achieve full parity in the region.
In comparison to other regions, South Asia grapples with the widest gender gap in the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex, with only 37.2% of the gap closed. Nevertheless, there has been a 1.4 percentage-point enhancement since the last edition, partly credited to the progress made by countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
Regarding educational attainment, South Asia has bridged 96% of the gender gap, ranking fifth among the eight regions. Nations such as India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives have attained the highest regional parity scores, while Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan still trail behind.
Despite improvements, South Asia maintains the second-lowest regional parity score in the Health and Survival subindex, standing at 95.3%. Notably, Bangladesh has made strides in this domain, along with Pakistan, India, the Maldives, and Nepal.
The report underscores that the widest gender gap across all regions is in the Political Empowerment subindex. South Asia ranks fourth among the eight regions in this aspect, with a parity score of 25.1%. However, the region has experienced a setback in this subindex, witnessing a 1% reduction in parity since the previous edition. Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Nepal are the only countries in the region that have improved their scores, while Iran, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan have seen a decline in parity. Bangladesh emerges as the top performer in South Asia, showcasing significant progress in achieving gender parity, particularly in political empowerment.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call for women’s active participation in nation-building resonates profoundly with Bangladesh’s progress towards gender parity, as evidenced by its leading position in South Asia. While significant strides have been made, sustained efforts are essential to bridge the remaining gaps and achieve comprehensive gender equality.
