Women’s participation increased to 33.5 percent in 2013 from 26.1 percent in 2002-2003, but 90.3 percent of them are employed in the informal sector and Women's participation in labor force is lagging behind in the formal sector and urban areas due to a lack of education and skill, according to the report, "Bangladesh Gender Equality Diagnostic of Selected Sectors” that revealed in The National Dissemination Workshop on 30 January, 2018 at a city hotel, jointly organized by BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
National Women Development Policy 2011 aims to establish gender equality in all spheres of life and National Action Plan has been developed for its implementation. The gender vision of the 7th Five Year Plan will ensure equal opportunities and rights for both women and men; and women will be recognised as equal contributors in economic, social and political developments said Ms. Nasima Begum, ndc, Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs during her speech as Chief Guest.
Mr. Manmohan Parkash, the Country Director of Asian Development Bank (ADB) chaired the inaugural session. Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, the Executive Director of BIGD delivered the introductory remarks. Professor Md. Akter Mahmud, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Jahangirnagar University and Vice President of Bangladesh Institute of Planners; Dr. Kaniz Siddique, Economist, and Ms. Maheen Sultan, Visiting Fellow of BIGD were the panelists. More than a hundred participants from donor agencies and development organizations engaged in the workshop.
The report was prepared by the Centre for Gender and Social Transformation (CGST), at BIGD, BRAC University, in collaboration with the ADB. The report has analysed the constraints and opportunities for women in the urban development, transport, skills development and in energy sectors, where the realities and priorities for women and men are different. It highlights the key gender issues as well as best practices in the sectors. It also provides guidelines to ensure benefit for both women and men.
Mentioning that the ADB will continue to support the elimination of gender disparities in primary and secondary education in the country, ADB country director Mr. Parkash said the study was conducted to guide the design of gender features of the ADB-supported projects in the sectors including skills, vocational and tertiary education, energy, transport and urban development and the publication will also be a useful resource for ADB, its partner government agencies and other development partners to achieve the gender objectives and targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).