Women are moving ahead and so is Bangladesh

A national seminar

On 6 December 2012 Steps Towards Development has organized a seminar in

CIRDAP Auditorium titled Women are moving ahead and so is Bangladesh, that
discusses women’s contribution to national level. Among the discussants there
were Dr. Binayak Sen (Research Director, BIDS), Dr. Kaniz Siddiqui (Researcher
and Gender Specialist), Dr. M. M. Akash (Professor, Dhaka University, Dept. of
Economics) and Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen (Professor, Dhaka University, Dept. of
Sociology) and other noted national personality.

The program was moderated by Bibhuranjan Sarker, director, GDCC and the key-
note paper was presented by Ranjan Karmakar.

In his welcoming speech, Bibhuranjan Sarker said, inspite of numerous obstacles,

our women are contributing in the economy of Bangladesh. Her contribution was
not recognised in Bangladesh, but worldwide the recognition is unprecedented. We
want that from us as well from the government to recognise it. That is why to
uphold it strongly we have arranged this seminar.

In the key-note paper Ranjan kamakar said that, women in Bangladesh are having
positive changes in their lives. She directly and indirectly contributes 48% of the
GDP. In the human condition development her awareness reduced child death from
574 to 351. Enrollment of the girl student in primary and secondary level has
surpassed the MDG goal of gender equality. Deaths of the mothers have dropped
to 40% and TFR dropped to 2.3. Women now represents in the parliament election
in19 seats, in reserved seats 45, there are 3 women are full ministers and 3 are
deputy ministers.

In the discussion Dr. Kaniz Siddiqui said that, investment is must on women’s
reproductive work. Women rears child, cooks, collects firewood and these are all
included to unpaid work. Women’s contribution behind the labor force is also a
contribution to GDP. Just because of the dowry system it may not be possible to
give remuneration for the house-work, but perhaps the government can set a trust
for the woman who does house-work. VAW has to be reduced down as the cost of
VAW is big. In a study it is clear that a woman approximately spends 11 thousand
BDT for the reason of VAW.

Dr Binayak sen in his discussion said, Earnings from RMG is high, but RMG
workers earns are not high. In agriculture sector monthly earn is only 9 thousand
BDT. A RMG works earns 3 thousand BDT monthly, perhaps a bit more with the
overtime.

Dr. M. M. Akash said that, in 1995 a study was conducted and what came out was
there are 4 sectors in which

Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen said, most of the time women’s contribution to the economy
if is omitted and are projected as vulnerable. we have conducted a research on
disaster and there was a question that how come there are number of loss of lives
so small in floods and in natural disasters. the answer was women uses their
knowledge and has become a force of resilience.

Dr. Binayak sen discussed on