The Gender Champions Network (GCN), an initiative of SAJIDA Foundation supported by the Gates Foundation, was launched in Dhaka with a call for stronger private-sector commitment to gender equity and inclusive workplaces in Bangladesh.
The launch event, titled ‘Transforming Workplaces: Driving Equity and Empowering Action,’ was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday, bringing together business leaders, development practitioners, academics, researchers and corporate professionals, said a press release issued on Tuesday.
At the event, organisers unveiled findings from a study titled ‘Gender at Work: A Study of Selected Private Sector Firms in Bangladesh,’ highlighting persistent gender disparities across sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, real estate and leather.
The study found significant gender disparities in the workplace. Women account for 22 percent of entry-level positions but only 6 percent of mid-management roles, indicating a sharp drop in female representation during career progression.
It also revealed that women earn 85 taka for every 100 taka earned by men, while the pay gap at leadership level exceeds 40 percent. Women were also found to have less access to technical and leadership training opportunities and shoulder a heavier overall workload when unpaid care responsibilities are considered.
The research focused on six key areas: gender representation, pay equity, fair recruitment and promotion, career advancement and mentorship, workplace culture and protections, and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sajeda Amin, Senior Research Advisor at SAJIDA Foundation, featured Anupama Anand of the Gates Foundation, Professor Dr. Melita Mehjabeen of University of Dhaka and Chairman of National Bank PLC, Ruhul Quddus Khan, CEO and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh, Nihad Kabir of Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed & Associates and Zahida Fizza Kabir, CEO of SAJIDA Foundation and Chairperson of the Gender Champions Network.
Speaking at the discussion, Ruhul Quddus Khan said gender equality must be treated as a business priority across organisations rather than remaining limited to human resources departments.
Zahida Fizza Kabir said gender justice is a human right and stressed the need for organisations at all levels to commit to inclusivity and institutional reform.
Anupama Anand noted that although women constitute half of Bangladesh’s working-age population, female labour force participation remains at 35 percent, attributing the gap to structural barriers rather than lack of aspiration.
According to organisers, the Gender Champions Network aims to bring together companies committed to inclusive practices and support measurable improvements through partnerships, expert guidance, workshops and policy advocacy.
Ten organisations have already joined the network as founding champions, organisers said.