Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has laid the foundation of building a golden Bangla based on science, technology and technology, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the initiative to build a smart Bangladesh by 2041. Women’s participation is essential to build Smart Bangladesh.
State Minister for Education Shamsun Nahar said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the Bangmata lecture entitled ‘Empowering Girls with ICT Skills and Employment: Challenges and Opportunities’ at Dhaka University (DU).
On Wednesday (April 24) at 11:00 a.m., a lecture was organized by the Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Center for Gender and Development Studies at the Mozaffar Ahmad Chowdhury Auditorium of Dhaka University’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
At that time, the state minister for education said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised in the 75th session of the United Nations that the participation of men and women in the labor force should be increased to 50:50 by 2041. According to the Global Gender Gap-2023 report, Bangladesh ranks 59th in the world in achieving gender equality, which is the top position among South Asian countries.
He said, nowadays our life is moving at the speed of lightning due to the benefit of technology. The government has made technology more accessible not only in major cities but also in different parts of the country. More and more people including men and women of all ages are joining this sector and finding new possibilities. Women are especially benefiting from this as it is helping them to become more self-reliant and find employment. Technology has opened up new possibilities for women in our society. The government believes that more and more women will start using technology in the future.
The state minister also said that according to government estimates, about 15 percent of women are working in information technology in the workplace. Inclusion of women in information and technology through women friendly e-commerce platforms and training in computer and internet services. Currently, the total number of freelancers in the country is about 650,000, of which 9 percent are women. Again, 31.61 percent of total entrepreneurs are women. 50 women entrepreneurs with disabilities in 16 districts of seven divisions of Bangladesh have developed their businesses by developing their skills and connecting them to the e-commerce platform.
In the president’s speech, Dhaka University Pro-VC (Education) Prof. Dr. Sitesh Chandra Bachar said that women have progressed a lot in various sectors of Bangladesh. In the last few years, more female students than male students have been admitted in Dhaka University. We hosted a reception for the highest performing students at the Vice Chancellor’s residence a few days back. Whereas the students with the highest results in 9 out of 10 faculties were women. These are only possible because of the programs undertaken by the Prime Minister for the development of women.
Director of ICT Cell of Dhaka University Professor Dr. Mohammad Asif Hossain Khan.
He said, in the context of Bangladesh, women do not have much opportunity to work outside. Various social constraints operate here. In that case, it is very important to encourage girls towards outsourcing. Because here simultaneously a girl has the opportunity to earn along with personal and family work. In our neighboring countries where 30 percent of the total GDP comes from outsourcing, unfortunately in our country it is only 3 and a half percent. It is important to look into it.
Also, research director of Bangladesh Development Research Institute presented the article in the event. Manjur Hossain. Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nescha Center for Gender and Development Studies Director Professor Dr. Tanya Haque Teachers and students of various departments of the university were present in the event.
Hasan Ali/MRM/MS
