Makring the International Women’s Day 2024, the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Centre for Gender and Development Studies organized a seminar titled "Empowering Future: Invest in Women towards Smart Bangladesh" on March 13, 2024.
The seminar was held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Auditorium, University of Dhaka.
The event was divided into two separate sessions – keynote presentation and panel discussions. The keynote presentation followed by discussion session chaired by the Honorable Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, and graced by the presence of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP, serving as the chief guest. Nasim Ferdous, President of Bangladesh Allowance for Women Leadership, delivered the keynote address, followed by remarks from discussant Dr. Binayek Sen, Director General of the Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies. Additionally, the event received virtual participation from Guest of Honour Syeda Muna Tasnim, Bangladesh High Commissioner, UK, and Professor Dr. Zia Rahman, Honourable Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka, who served as special guests of the seminar.
The panel discussion was organized with eminent development professionals and activists from various sectors presided over by Dr. Nazmunnesa Mahtab, Rokeya Chair and Honorary professor of Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka. The panel discussion included legendary female activists like- Bibi Russel, Shomi Kaisar, Farah Kabir and others who shared their groundbreaking findings from their experience while working with women at the grassroots level.
The seminar also featured a captivating digital art exhibition that depicted the diverse experiences of women, emphasizing their struggles, marginalization, contributions, and achievements within the context of Smart Bangladesh. The event culminated in an award ceremony, where three Fellows were honored with the prestigious “Bangamata Commemorative Young Researcher’s Fellowship” from the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Centre for Gender and Development Studies. This fellowship aims to support impactful research in development, gender, and the economy.
Dr. Tania Haque, Director
Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Centre for Gender and Development Studies
The seminar kicked off with an introductory speech by Professor Dr. Tania Haque, Director of the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Centre for Gender and Development Studies. She honored Fazilatun Nessa for her role in shaping Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's vision for Bangladesh. Dr. Haque emphasized the importance of investing in research and development as an "economic necessity" and integrating women's needs into household financial planning. She highlighted gender equality as a catalyst for poverty reduction, economic growth, and sustainable development. Additionally, she stressed the importance of assessing the economic cost of violence against women and called for a paradigm shift that prioritizes investment in research and development while respecting women's dignity.Nasim Ferdous
President
Bangladesh Allowance for Women Leadership
In her keynote speech, Nasim Ferdous, President of the Bangladesh Alliance for Women Leadership, honored Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib's inspirational role to Bangabandhu. She discussed Bangabandhu's contributions to women's empowerment, highlighting reserved seats for women in the national parliament and government job quotas, which she views not as favors but as pathways for women to become leaders. She She urged- “there is no emancipation of women without economic emancipation”. She also recalled her own educational journey, stressing the role of education and institutions in empowering women. Ferdous advocated for more specialized training to prepare women for technology-based jobs, asserting that financial independence is essential for true equality and empowerment. She highlighted education as crucial for personality development and urged women to assert their agency in personal and broader decision-making. She praised freelancing for its global connectivity and opportunities but also called for new empowerment methods for marginalized women, supporting the "smart policy" of inclusivity.
Dr. Binayek Sen
Director General
BIDS
Dr. Binayek Sen expanded on the keynote presentation by sharing his extensive experience in the development sector, highlighting the strength of Bengali culture in producing strong female characters through literature and cinema. He cited works like Rokeya’s "Stree Jatir Obonoti," Alawol's "Padmavati," and the Mymensingh Gitika ballads as examples of women's emancipation in Bengali history. Comparing Bangladesh to other South Asian nations, Dr. Sen noted the country's progress toward gender equality in education, labor force participation, and maternal health. However, he also addressed challenges such as the rise in C-sections, slow progress against early marriage, and the burden of unpaid care work due to patriarchal norms. Dr. Sen proposed several solutions to address these issues and advance women's empowerment.
He thinks:
The Bangladesh High Commissioner, United Kingdom, Syeda Muna Tasnim initiated her speech by showing respect and acknowledgement of Bangladesh as the 8th most politically empowered nation in terms of gender parity and successfully moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the architect of Smart Bangladesh. She highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's support for women entrepreneurship as a model for inspiring millions to achieve economic empowerment. Additionally, she believes that AI technology can provide special opportunities for female workers, further empowering women. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of women standing up for themselves, as it represents standing up for all women worldwide.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs has entirely narrated the importance of ethical and moral education as a prerequisite to women’s empowermnet. He stressed the importance of moral and ethical development for women alongside gaining structural knowledge in nation-building. Emphasizing financial empowerment, he lauds Bangladesh's advancement in the fourth industrial revolution through ICT-based Digital Bangladesh, accelerating women's empowerment in economic, social, and political spheres. Dr. Hasan Mahmud envisions Bangladesh as a global development model, echoing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's call to address the absence of women in certain sectors and expressing hope for a female UN Secretary-General in the near future. Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka and Chairperson of the seminar, concluded the discussion with insightful guidance. He emphasized the importance of organizing timely events and follow-ups for sustainable progress and women's empowerment. Dr. Kamal advocated for creating a supportive environment where women can influence and transform the world. He suggested that celebrating women's empowerment worldwide requires accurately recognizing their contributions.
In the seminar's second part, panelists unanimously acknowledged Bangladesh's significant progress in women's empowerment but highlighted the need for additional efforts to reach greater heights. Renowned Bangladeshi actor Shomi Kaisar emphasized the importance of formal education in building strong personalities. Eminent fashion designer Bibi Russel expressed her belief in the transformative power of women and urged them to empower themselves to share their magic worldwide. Other panelists echoed the idea that women's inherent resilience enables them to confront daily challenges within patriarchal structures. They emphasized the importance of viewing men not as dominants but as partners in achieving gender equality on a global scale.
The above discussion draws attention towards some critical issues-
Thus, the takeaway from this event poses the following recommendations for ways forward:
