Despite the rise in female education in Bangladesh, women’s active participation in the workforce remains relatively low.
Many women — around 25.8% — are forced to take a career break due to maternity reasons, while others leave their jobs due to family responsibilities, social pressure, or an unsupportive work environment.
To address this issue, Brac officially launched the “Bridge Returnship” program on Thursday, aiming to help women re-enter the workforce after career breaks.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Brac Centre in Mohakhali.
Through the application process, the program identified key barriers preventing women from returning to work.
Findings revealed that 63% of applicants cited social pressure as a major obstacle, while 2.5% pointed to family responsibilities and 0.7% to an adverse work environment.
Meanwhile, their primary motivations for joining the program included career advancement (38.5%), self-confidence (22.7%), financial independence (3%), and contributing to the family (10.8%).
Out of 1,100 applicants, 15 women have been selected to work in various Brac programs for six months.
Additionally, 100 candidates will receive professional training, leadership development workshops, and mentoring to enhance their skills.
The program will also help participants connect with NGOs, private institutions, and leading organizations to secure jobs that align with their qualifications.
The Bridge Returnship program is designed to provide women with hands-on experience, professional development, mentorship, and confidence-building opportunities, ultimately easing their transition back into the workforce.
Participants will be involved in project supervision, research, and various operational activities at Brac, playing an active role in department functions.
Speaking at the event, Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh highlighted the challenges women face despite advancements in education: "We have worked to increase women's education rates, but we have not been able to shield them from societal barriers. As a result, although more women are educated, their participation in the workforce, particularly in higher positions, remains low. The workplace environment must be made more supportive for women,” he added.
Addressing concerns about workplace mental health, Moutushi Kabir, senior director of Culture and Communications, said: "Along with professional training, we will provide mental health support under the ‘Bridge Returnship’ program. Additional components will be added as needed in phases to empower women and boost their confidence in the workplace.”
