We seek financial investment in women's development

Since 1914, International Women's Day has been celebrated worldwide with the goal of promoting women's labor rights, health, education, and establishing familial and social rights. Over the past century, women have made significant strides in claiming their rights through various movements and struggles. However, many rights still remain unfulfilled for women. Particularly in education and economic empowerment, women in many countries still lag behind and continue to fight for their rights.

Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in empowering women. According to the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index, Bangladesh ranks at the forefront of gender equality among South Asian countries. Women's participation in the labour market has increased, exceeding 35% in South Asia on average. The primary school enrollment rate for girls stands at an impressive 98.7%. Recognizing Bangladesh's advancements in women's empowerment, renowned economist Amartya Sen has remarked that Bangladeshi women are ahead of Indian women in many aspects.

Despite the barriers on the path to women's empowerment, the government is making efforts to eliminate them. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's most commendable initiative in this regard is the allocation of special funds for women in the national budget. With the encouragement and support of the prime minister and her government, many women have expressed themselves as entrepreneurs.

Overall, while challenges remain, Bangladesh's government is actively working to remove barriers to women's empowerment. Through initiatives like special budget allocations and support for female entrepreneurs, the country is moving closer to achieving gender equality and empowering its women.

The theme for this year's International Women's Day is "Women's Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Let Investment Advance." Without investing in women, they cannot be propelled forward. Investment in women should not be limited to education and health sectors only; women need substantial investment to establish themselves as entrepreneurs and creators. Otherwise, a significant number of women will lag behind, perpetuating inequality and injustice in society.

While Bangladesh has made significant progress in women's rights in many areas, there are still distressing disparities in some aspects. Particularly, women's vulnerability to violence persists, despite avenues such as helplines (e.g., 109) being available for emergency assistance. Many women still lag behind due to fear of exercising their legal rights. According to a report titled "Women, Business, and the Law 2024" by the World Bank, Bangladeshi women are still significantly behind in enjoying legal rights. In the workforce, Bangladeshi women enjoy only one-third of the legal rights that men do. Bangladesh ranks seventh out of eight South Asian countries in terms of equal rights for women and men in the workforce, with a score of 32.5. Such statistics are shameful for the country.

Women's empowerment doesn't just mean a few specific rights for women. According to information published in the media, only privileged women in Bangladesh have access to special opportunities, benefits, and rights, while rural women are deprived of these rights. In Bangladesh, the rate of child marriage for girls is still 54%.

The question arises as to why in a country where women hold positions such as prime minister, speaker, multiple ministers, and members of parliament, violence against women still persists. Despite having progressive laws and policies in place to prevent physical, mental, and sexual violence against women and girls, the situation of child abuse remains concerning due to the lack of proper enforcement and awareness of existing laws. Therefore, despite advancements in various sectors, the prevailing attitudes towards women in society continue to lag behind.

It must be remembered that an individual is not an isolated entity but a part of the social collective. Therefore, ensuring women's rights, education, and safety are imperative for building a prosperous Bangladesh. Women must be ensured a safe and secure environment, economic equality, quality education, healthcare services, and a society free from oppression.