Discussants at a programme have urged women leaders of all sectors in the country to come forward to patronise women entrepreneurs to help them establish in the society.
Energies Group, in collaboration with EMK Centre organised the discussion programme titled “Her Story: Women Trailblazers” at Midas Centre in Dhaka on Saturday to mark the International Women’s Day.
Tarana Halim, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications, attended the programme as the chief guest while Rokia Afzal Rahman, founder of MIDAS and former Adviser to the caretaker government was the special guest.
Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Center for Policy Dialogue, moderated the programme. Besides, Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Acting Director, Infectious Diseases Division and Emeritus Scientist, ICDDRB, Rupali Chowdhury, Managing Director, Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited, Suraiya Zannatth, FCA, Lead Financial Management Specialist, The World Bank and Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Freelance Artist, were the panel discussants on the occasion.
Moreover, Sajeda Farisa Kabir, Programmer Head, Human Rights and Legal Aid Services, BRAC, Maliha Malek Quadir, Founder and Managing Director, Shohoz.com, Nishat Mazumder, Everest Summiter, Joya Shahrin Haque, Assistant Professor, Print Making Department of Dhaka University were the presenters at the programme, while Zareen Mahmud Hosein, Director, Energis Limited attended it as the women entrepreneur and organiser.
Addressing the discussion, the panel discussants said women empowerment is the reflection of gender equality that acts as precursor to move the country forward to several goals — moving the country forward towards attaining middle income status, and also inclusive and sustainable development of Bangladesh.
They also put emphasis on ensuring a society that provides equal opportunity and fundamental right for everyone, as women have to face many challenges in their day to day life everyday.
Participation of women in different sectors like science, technology and research is transforming visions of Bangladesh and it needs to be cleared, said women leaders from different professions.
Ensuring all sort of supports to the women, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim declared that 20 per cent of women would be entitled to get privilege in jobs by the postal division as drivers in its next recruitment.
“The postal division will keep 20 per cent job for women in its next driver recruitment process,” the junior minister said.
World Bank group’s Lead Financial Management Specialist Suraiya Zannatth said women participation is increasing in professions like micro finance, ready-made garments, agriculture and some other sectors in Bangladesh.
“The recent labour force found women have a major percentage in manufacturing sector, almost equal like men. Health and education also have second largest participation of women. In agriculture, it is 50 percent where women are representing,” said Zannatth.
Berger Paints of Bangladesh Limited Managing Director Rupali Chowdhury suggested women to take an approach and work for securing positions in leadership roles.
“The number of women as role model is very few in professions like artist, police officer, pilot or other scientific fields. Those, who can manage their time, in every stages of life can be the role model. So, we need to work hard and we can not give up,” said eminent artist Kanak Chapa Chakma.
Later, the state minister inaugurated an art exhibition “HER STORY: Women Trailblazers”, dedicated to female leadership in Bangladesh over the past century.
The framework of the exhibition is a timeline of outstanding personas who made lasting contributions to the fields of science, politics, economics, arts and letters. The exhibition would remain open from 9:30am to 8.00pm everyday at EMK Center in Dhaka till March 31.
Energis Limited is the sister concern of Shasha Denims Limited, a listed company with the country’s Stock Exchange.
Energis as part of its social responsibility has long been working for uplifting capability of industry, culture, education and infrastructure.
