Calls for collective measures to accelerate workforce gender equality, improve women’s empowerment

Experts and professionals at an event said that it is mandatory to have unified commitment to dismantling the obstacles women face at work in every sector mainly to ensure smoother empowerment of women.

They were addressing the event titled “Reimagining Gender Equality in the Bangladesh Workforce” at the BRAC Center in Dhaka.
UNOPS Bangladesh in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden and the Department of Women’s Affairs (DoWA) of Bangladesh organised it.

The event brought together policymakers, experts, industry leaders, civil society organisations, youths and inspiring changemakers to spotlight the barriers of gender disparities across Bangladesh’s workforce and sustainable solutions for gender parity.

The dialogue aimed to spotlight persistent barriers to women’s workforce participation and foster actionable discussions on how to eliminate systemic challenges across key sectors, including STEM, construction, finance, law, corporate leadership, media, and sports.

Mamtaz Ahmed, senior secretary to Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, presenting the keynote paper as the chief guest, said that the empowerment of women is not only about addressing inequalities but also about unlocking the immense potential that remains untapped in Bangladesh.

“We must commit to dismantling the barriers that prevent women from achieving their fullest potential in every sector, from STEM to sports.”

Emphasising the collective urgency of addressing gender inequality in the workforce, Sudhir Muralidharan, country Manager of UNOPS Bangladesh and bhutan, said that ensuring equal opportunities for women is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for sustainable development.

“At UNOPS, we are committed to fostering a workforce where every woman feels empowered to achieve her potential.”

Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks said: “Sweden has a long-standing commitment to promoting gender equality. It is a cornerstone of our Foreign Policy and a principle we carry into every partnership, including with Bangladesh”.

He invited policymakers, educators, business leaders, and community advocates to take concrete actions to ensure that women and girls have the tools and opportunities to succeed in STEM.

UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis stated that gender equality in the workforce is the key to sustainable development. “Together, we must break barriers, create opportunities, and build a brighter future for Bangladesh.”

Keya Khan, Director General, Department of Women’s Affairs, urged stakeholders to continue collaborating toward a more equitable workforce.

“Real change in achieving gender equality requires collective action and this change will not come if we overlook the matter of men’s inclusion in this journey. Together, we can create pathways for women to lead and succeed in every sector of the economy,” she concluded.

Farah Kabir, country director of Action Aid Bangladesh, chaired the discussion addressed, among others, by Prof. Lafifa Jamal, Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Dhaka University, Mahia Juned, Additional Managing Director, City Bank and Tropa Mojumder, acclaimed actress and director, Tabith Awal – President of the Bangladesh Football Federation, Taslima Yasmin – Associate Professor, Department of Law, Vidiya Amrit Khan – Deputy Managing Director, Desh Group of Companies, Shamima Akter – Head of Brand, Partnership, and Communication, UNILEVER, Aupee Karim – Architect and Faculty Member at the School of Architecture, American International University.