The Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Center for Gender and Development Studies(BCGDS), University of Dhaka, and the Bangladesh Academy for Securities Markets (BASM)(Academic Wing Of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, BSEC), collaborated on a 7-day training program titled 'Strategies for Promoting Gender Equality and Inclusive Market Systems: Sensitizing Market Intermediaries on Gender for Development (G4D)' held from November 12 to November 20, 2023. The certification and closing ceremony of the training program was held at the Professor Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom, Honourable Vice Chancellor’s office, University of Dhaka on December 13, 2023.
Honourable Vice Chancellor Dr A.S.M Maksud Kamal graced the certification and closing ceremony as the chief guest. The event was also marked by the presence of the Guest of Honour, Professor Shibli Rubayet Ul-Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, and Special Guest Professor Dr Sheik Shamsuddin Ahmed, Commissioner of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission. Professor, Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, President of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, was also present on the occasion. During the event, certificates were presented to 26 participants ofthe training program.
The training aimed to enhance gender-responsive awareness and planning among participants so that they can more effectively play their role in implementing gender-sensitive development policies in their affiliated places as well as mainstreaming gender in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The target groups of the training were:
The training curriculum: was designed in 7 modules:
01: Understanding Gender: Issues & Concepts
02: Gender and Sustainable Development
03: Gender Analysis: Tools and Frameworks
04: Gender Approaches to Financial Market places/ Gender Analysis in Market Systems
05: Access to Finance: Gender Perspectives
06: Building Gender-sensitive Market Institutions
07: Follow up and action planning
The trainers of the program were: Dr. Jamila A Chowdhury, Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka; Dr. Ayesha Banu, Professor, Dept. of Women & Gender Studies, University of Dhaka; Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh; Dr. Atiur Rahman, Emeritus Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka; Mr. Monirul Islam, Additional Secretary (SDG affairs), Prime minister’s office; Dr. Bazlul H. Khondker, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka; Dr. Soma Dey, Associate Professor, Department of Women & Gender Studies, University of Dhaka; Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka; Dr. Salma Akhter, Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka; Dr. Lila Rashid, Former Executive Director, Bangladesh Bank; Ashiqur Rahman, Director, SME, Bangladesh Bank; Mr. Fazle Razik, Senior Technical Advisor, Swisscontact; Mr. Sazidur Rahman, Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, BRAC; and Professor Dr. Tania Haque, Director, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa centre for Gender and Development Studies, University of Dhaka.
In the closing session, Professor Dr Sheikh Shamsuddin Ahmed, Honourable Commissioner of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, opened the ceremony with a stirring speech. He highlighted the significant progress Bangladesh has made in gender parity, ranking 59th globally and first among South Asian nations according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report.
He further emphasized the importance of developing skills and training, echoing the vision of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who advocated for empowering individuals through knowledge and skills. Dr Ahmed commended the collaborative effort of BCGDS and BASM in organizing this training, emphasizing its role in raising gender sensitivity and promoting gender-responsive awareness.
Following Professor Dr Sheikh Shamsuddin Ahmed, quoting the Noble laureate economist Amartya Sen, Dr Muhammad Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan stated, that women in Bangladesh constitute only 34% of the workforce, yet the situation in Bangladesh is remarkably unprecedented. If all women in Bangladesh were to work, our GDP growth could be 12%.' He further added that, if all of our women were engaged in the workforce we even surpass India. .
Later, the Guest of honour of this event Professor Shibli Rubayet Ul-Islam, in his address, underlined the critical role of partnership in Bangladesh's economic journey. He noted the remarkable progress made, with the country now ranking among the top 40 in economic standing, compared to the 200th position after independence. This impressive growth has garnered international attention, but Professor Ul-Islam warned that further advancement will require increased effort.
He highlighted the need for collective talent and skill development as Bangladesh strives towards a top 30 or even top 20 economic position. He expressed optimism in Bangladesh's transformation into a human capital powerhouse, predicting the nation's entry into a "golden economic age" within the next five years.
Following this optimism, Professor Tawhid Ul-Islam acknowledged the crucial roles played by both BICM, operating at the academy level, and BASM, working at the field level, in preparing Bangladesh for this future. He underscored the need to address the gap in capital market participation and financial literacy among women, emphasizing the importance of both money and capital markets working in tandem for sustained economic progress.
Remarkably, In his speech the Chief Guest Vice Chancellor Dr A.S.M Maksud Kamal mentioned, 'Girls exhibit a slightly higher level of knowledge than men, excelling both at home and in various aspects. When women actively participate in the market, improvements naturally extend to families, the country, and overall progress. Notably, Dhaka University has seen a consistent rise in the enrollment of female students, reaching 52% for the last two years as compared to 51% two years back. Women also lead in terms of education. This growing presence showcases the undeniable academic prowess of women.'
The Vice Chancellor emphasized the importance of education beyond just securing jobs. 'Education empowers individuals in all aspects of life,' he stated. 'It equips some with the skills to excel in service roles, while others will become entrepreneurs, driving innovation and growth with their higher education and fresh perspectives. In this dynamic landscape, the emergence of successful women entrepreneurs is not merely possible, but inevitable.'
He concluded by praising the initiative behind the training program, stating, 'The current age is indeed the age of skill enhancement. Training programs like this, jointly organized by BASM and BCGDS, are invaluable tools in bridging skill gaps and empowering individuals, especially women, to contribute meaningfully to our economy and society.'
Lastly, Professor Dr Tania Haque, Director of Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Center for Gender and Development Studies, expressed her gratitude and respect for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Mujib in the closing speech. She announced the successful completion of the certificate course and congratulated the participants , anticipating their role as gender champions in their respective families and workplaces.
She stressed the need for gender and development training for market intermediaries in the rapidly changing global landscape. She further added that inclusive development is crucial for reshaping Bangladesh's economy and society, earning recognition globally. She added, ‘Finally, we are now dreaming of a smart Bangladesh from a digital Bangladesh. So to sustain this progress, we need to build a society that is inclusive of gender equality, where everyone can become smart while maintaining their individuality. We believe that gender equality and inclusive market access are not separate issues from smart Bangladesh. Rather, they are complementary to each other.’ Lastly, She expressed her gratitude for the cooperation of all the people involved in this event.
