Building smart women for a 'Smart Bangladesh'

After successful launch of Digital Bangladesh vision 2021, the government has brought a new vision on Smart Bangladesh. Smart Bangladesh is believed to be the next major step towards realizing Bangabandhu’s dream of Sonar Bangla. The government has focused on four main pillars--smart citizen, smart government, smart society and smart economy-to achieve the goal. 

We must not forget that Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 is not only about  5G internet, 100% smartphone penetration or going cashless. It's all about improving its human resources so that they can act smartly to transform the country into a smart one. So, making smart citizens is the first and foremost target of the government. 

As citizenship implies equal rights for all, in a civilised country, men and women ought to be in all respects equal. Not long ago women faced tremendous barriers as they sought opportunities that would set them on an equal footing with men. Going back a quarter century, inequality between women and men was widely apparent—in classrooms, in the workplace, and even in homes. Nowadays more and more women are going to school, getting better jobs, acquiring legal rights and protections and living longer. However, the large gender gaps remain. 

According to the latest census, of the total population, 81,712,824 are men while 83,347,206 women. So, 98 males are reported in contrast to 100 females. In such case, depriving  women from their rights and being reluctant about women empowerment means, we are ignorant about our wellbeing. So, closing gender gaps and empowering women benefit the entire nation. My point is we must think about building smart women in order to realise the dream of Smart Bangladesh. 

One of the essential components of this vision is building a women-friendly digital economy that incorporates knowledge and information on latest global technologies, standards and developments.

Hower, despite making up 50.4 percent of the population, only 18 percent of the directors of the publicly listed companies in Bangladesh were women in fiscal 2021-22. Even though many reputed start-ups were founded and led by women in the country, our tech industry is still has lower share of women. Only 1-8 percent of those employed in software, artificial intelligence and advanced technology are women. 

As Smart Bangladesh targets to bring equality in women's participation in the ICT sector to support the transition of Bangladesh to a developed country by 2041, women should be empowered in their own works through education, skills and talent. They should be more skilled in technical and tech-based education and training, so that they can keep up with the changing world. Skilled women can contribute to the development sector of the country. They must be efficient to face the future challenges of the changing world keeping pace with information and technology revolution. 

But, before encouraging women to take a leading role in building Smart Bangladesh, we must identify the key barriers to technological innovation and education to achieve gender equality. Then we must enhance capacity building and technology transfer to bridge the digital gender divide. In this regard, our government takes up the leading role to ensure gender equality in ICT.

The government has undertaken several signature initiatives to empower women. The establishment of 5,000 digital centres at the grassroots level, science and technology universities in major districts, technical and vocational institutes across the country would help women empowerment. Moreover, the, introduction of women-led agent network SATHI to facilitate digital financial services for marginalised women.

Women should be inspired, encouraged and rewarded for harnessing technology and taking up  entrepreneurship so that the nation easily achieve the goal of turing the country into a smart one.