The Covid-19 pandemic is widening the gender gap in Bangladesh, more in accessing economic opportunities. The country now needs to make significant progress in attaining gender equality in line with the global targets under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its earlier achievements have been challenged by the fallout of the coronavirus, particularly in the areas of education, employment, decision-making and overall women empowerment, says a report of the World Economic forum (WEF).
The Geneva-based WEF in its latest Global Gender Gap Report 2021 issued on March 31 signalled the growing gap between the sexes as important an issue in rebuilding the Covid-19 battered economies.
Though Bangladesh secured the top position among the South Asian countries in ensuring gender equality for the seventh consecutive years since 2014, this year the country has slipped 15 notches to the 65th position among 156 countries. Accordingly, Bangladesh has been placed at 147th in economic participation and opportunity, 121st in educational attainment, 134th in health attainment, and 7th in political empowerment.
The forum estimates it will now take 135 years for the world to achieve gender parity. Before the pandemic, it said it would take 99 years.
The report warned that the disparity in economic opportunities between men and women could further widen even after the pandemic, as female representation remains low in many “jobs of tomorrow.” Bangladesh’s worst performance is recorded in the area of economic participation and opportunity for women, compared to their male counterparts.
Another report titled “Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: Role of Government Services” says Chattogram division is somewhat falling behind in some key indicators of gender equality, compared to the national average. It was conducted by a European Union (EU) funded project.
Local rights groups and women empowerment advocates have called for an effective partnership among the policymakers, implementation agencies and beneficiaries to reduce the gap between men and women in the country.
