Women Empowerment in Bangladesh
"There is no tool for development more effective than empowerment of women." ____ Kofi Annan
Women empowerment refers to enabling women to have equal rights and access to resources, decision-making process and opportunities in all sectors of life. This has been a central agenda in Bangladesh especially in achieving gender equality, poverty reduction and economic development. Efforts in education, employment and political participation have driven this empowerment forward. This has also been given priority in sustainable development Goals ( Goal no. 5) of the UN.
Women empowerment in Bangladesh have seen impressive strides. The following key areas show notable progress:
| Female Literacy Rate | 75.8% | Economic Review-2024 |
| Reserved Seats for Women in Parliament | 50 | Constitution of Bangladesh, Article 65(5) |
| Gender Parity Score | 72.2% | Global Gender Gap Report-2023 |
In recent years, the government, non-government organizations ( NGOs) and other stakeholders have launched numerous initiatives to promote women empowerment. International organizations such as WB and UNDP have also played critical role in funding programs focused on female empowerment on various sectors like:
- Employment and Economic Empowerment
- Health and Well-being
- Female Education
- Political Empowerment
The political empowerment of women has received substantial attention, particularly through their participation in the workforce. Women dominate the RMG sector. Besides, microfinance programs those run by Grameen Bank and BRAC have played significant role in empowering women economically and socially.
Women's representation in parliament, improvements in healthcare and education are some evidences of empowerment of despite some challenges persist. However, addressing the persistent challenges like gender-based violence and social norms Bangladesh is edging towards the full-fledged empowerment of women.