Empowerment of Women in Bangladesh
Introductions:
Empowerment
of women is an important aspect of the concept of both global and national development.
Women’s contributions are indispensable for socio-economic development. So
their participation is to be ensured in development work. In fact, the empowerment
of women includes feminine rights and state recognition of women by making
them self-reliant and decision-makers in all-inclusive aspects.
World
background: Time is a ceaseless traveler and with the ongoing
movement of time women folk can be turned into an asset by ensuring their
active involvement. The need for women's development and their participation in production-oriented projects are recognized in all countries. So the matter
is not a national issue only. Instead, the global concept is to be considered.
The UN is actively working for women's development as well as empowerment. World
Women’s Day was declared in 1975 and a women's decade was observed between 1975 –
1985. The objective of women's decade is women's development, and establishment of
rights in the family, society, and work fields. The first World Women Conference was
held in Mexico in 1975.
Bangladesh
background: Need for women's development and empowerment in Bangladesh
has long been felt. To face gender discrimination, indifference to women’s
fundamental rights, and constitutional equity with males Bangladesh government
formed Women Rehabilitation Board. In 1978, Women Affairs Ministry was formed
to monitor the government's steps relating to the empowerment of women.
Status
and empowerment of women in administration and politics: At present
about 10,000 women are employed in administration and management jobs. A few
women are in secretarial posts now. In Bangladesh 25 million women are labour
force, 79% are in the agro-based sector, 9.9% in the manufacturing and transportation
sector, 2.2% in the marketing sector, and 0.6% in clerical posts. In banking 01
general manager, in the police department 05 women supers, and 01 Brigadier woman in
AMC. Out of the total of 85,000 women 1% in ministries, 16% in autonomous bodies, and
82.5% in official jobs are employed. A very small number of women are in politics
and parliament.
Process
of women empowerment and practical scenery: The first and foremost factor for women's
development is education. Education is necessary for awakening consciousness in
women. Women are under the jaws of household maintenance, child-rearing, and childbirth but they hardly get recognition of their rights. Women participate in manual labour in the garment industries like their male counterparts and,
moreover, they work for 21 hours a day which is more than the males.
Role
of NGO in women empowerment: There is a progressive action programme
for the empowerment of women in the NGO sector. ADAB a top-level NGO organization has
five women on the executive committee. Many voluntary organizations are working
for driving consciousness, generating income sources, and investment-orienting
schemes so that women strive for self-employment.
Obstacles
to women's empowerment: There are a lot of hindrances to women's
empowerment and women's development. Women are compelled to work at a low wage in
agriculture or other non-recognized sectors. Thinking and planning for women's empowerment is
not less both at government and non-government levels but the materialization of
thinking and planning is still in question.
Steps
for the empowerment of women: Preconditions for the empowerment of women are (i) to
change their status and financial condition; (ii) to make them participate in
decision-making and controlling affairs.
According
to the constitutions of Bangladesh: Any disparity between women is strictly
prohibited due to religion, creed, place, and birth. For women's development and
empowerment, our government has founded Women Rehabilitation Board,
Rehabilitation and Welfare Foundation, National Women Organization, Women
Affairs Directorate, and Independent Women and Children Affairs Ministry.
Conclusion:
There is no alternative to making women
economically, socially, and politically self-reliant and
empowered. Empowerment of women is a matter where women will compete with men
for equal rights to build up a reformed world of safety and prosperity.
Discrimination between males and females will be resolved and the coming generation
will come across a new greener world.
