Barrister Zaima Rahman has said that despite women’s growing participation in public life, digital harassment remains a major barrier to their empowerment, with nearly 70% of women constantly facing harassment on Facebook.
She made the remarks on Sunday at a dialogue titled “Women Shaping the Nation: Policy, Possibility and the Future of Bangladesh”, held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) Complex in Farmgate, Dhaka.
The event brought together around a thousand participants from across the country, including women leaders, professionals, students and young people from diverse sectors.
Zaima Rahman, grand daughter of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, addressed the audience as a special guest, marking her first public or policy-level speech since returning to Bangladesh from London with her father, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, on December 25.
In her speech, Zaima Rahman highlighted the often-overlooked economic contributions of women, saying their role in driving the country’s economy and GDP remains largely invisible.
“My mother is a cardiologist and a homemaker. She manages both roles equally,” she said. “My grandmother, Begum Khaleda Zia, led a political party and worked extensively for women’s education and health. Yet women’s contributions to the economy and GDP are still not adequately recognised.”
Addressing the issue of online abuse, she said harassment on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, has become a persistent challenge for women who speak up or engage in public discourse.
“We are all speaking for the country and its people, and that is the beauty of democracy,” she said, stressing the need for a safer and more inclusive digital space for women.
Zaima Rahman emphasised that women’s self-confidence is central to empowerment, arguing that eliminating gender discrimination would significantly boost women’s participation in the economy—an outcome already visible in many developed countries.
“If gender discrimination can be removed, women can easily contribute more to GDP,” she said.
Recalling a personal anecdote, she shared an incident from London during Khaleda Zia’s medical treatment, where a Nigerian nurse spoke to Tarique Rahman about the former prime minister’s contributions to women’s education, health and advancement in Bangladesh.
“That nurse said Nigeria had adopted steps introduced by Begum Khaleda Zia for the development of women,” Zaima Rahman said.
The three-hour discussion, held from 3pm to 6pm, focused on key issues including women’s empowerment and safety, economic participation and entrepreneurship, pathways to leadership, and the policy frameworks required for sustainable development.
Prominent speakers at the event included Tamara Abed, managing director of BRAC Enterprises; Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Rupali Chowdhury, managing director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited; and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The session was moderated by journalist Kazi Jessin.
