On International Women’s Day 2026, as the world reflects on the theme “Give to Gain,” it is a reminder that empowering women is never charity, but the surest path to collective progress.
For Bangladesh, however, such a theme could not be more urgent. The recently concluded general elections revealed once again how far we remain from genuine empowerment for women, with every political party failing tremendously in assuring capable women candidates to represent them. Indeed, despite five and a half decades removed from independence, and despite all the promises and rhetoric, the harsh reality is that women’s representation in politics and leadership roles have continued to stagnate.
True empowerment means ensuring women’s safety, equal opportunities in careers, and dignity in everyday life. Too many women still face harassment in workplaces, discrimination in hiring, and barriers to advancement. Too many continue to struggle for access to education, healthcare, and financial independence. And too many live in fear of violence, both in public spaces and within their homes.
The newly-elected government has much work to do, but among its tasks is creating pathways for women to become leaders - in politics, business, and civil society alike. It must also enforce workplace protections, ensure fair pay, and dismantle systemic barriers that keep women from thriving.
Bangladesh has continued to struggle as a nation, and it is time to realize that when women are empowered, economies grow, communities strengthen, and nations thrive. Our future prosperity depends on whether we can move beyond token gestures and deliver real opportunities for women to lead, work, and live free from fear.
All our talk of creating a better Bangladesh rings hollow if we cannot acknowledge the reality that no nation, and certainly not Bangladesh, can prosper when half its population is systematically and perpetually left behind.
