Published: 11:23 PM, 06 November 2026
Dr Zubaida calls for equal opportunities for women's empowerment
Dr Zubaida Rahman, spouse of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Vice-President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, on Thursday underscored the need to ensure equal opportunities for women's empowerment, economic emancipation, education and leadership development.
"The progress of women cannot be measured solely by the number of women who have reached top positions," she said.
"True progress, she said, depends on how many other women are given the opportunity to follow in their footsteps, how accessible these opportunities are to women from diverse social and economic backgrounds, and the extent to which their leadership creates a positive impact in the workplace and society at large," she added.
Dr Zubaida Rahman made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on women's leadership at a hotel in the capital, BSS reports.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) and the US Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised the seminar as part of the three-day 30th US Trade Show, which marks the 30th anniversary of the expansion of commercial relations between Bangladesh and the United States.
In her address, Dr Zubaida Rahman highlighted various aspects of women's empowerment, employment, education, healthcare and economic participation.
She said women constitute 50.8 percent of Bangladesh's total population. "Yet, due to various obstacles, a significant number of women in the country remain excluded from the mainstream economy. Issues such as child marriage, limited access to education and inadequate healthcare serve as major barriers to realising women's potential," she said.
Citing 2025 data from the International Labour Organization (ILO), she pointed out that the female labour force participation rate in Bangladesh stands at 38.6 percent, compared to 80.4 percent for men.
Millions of women across the country's 90,049 villages remain inadequately integrated into the mainstream economy, Dr Zubaida Rahman said.
Highlighting the issue of girls dropping out of the education system, she said that, according to 2023 statistics from BANBEIS, the dropout rate among girls stands at 34.9 percent at the secondary level and 22.5 percent at the higher secondary level.
Besides, she said, women's participation in higher education stands at only 20.8 percent. Therefore, it is essential to ensure consistent support for girls at every stage, she added.
Dr Zubaida Rahman said that merely obtaining a degree does not guarantee employment. A strong foundation in literacy, science, technology and practical skills must also be built for girls.
Additionally, she said, opportunities must be created for them to ask questions, innovate and take on leadership roles.
She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his government are committed to providing free education for girls up to the undergraduate level. Previously, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had made education for girls free up to Class-XII, she said.
