Gender inequality in Bangladesh

Gender inequality has been improving a lot in Bangladesh. In 2025, Bangladesh was ranked 24 out of 148 countries on the Global Gender Gap Report of World Economic Forum,^[1] which was 47 out 144 countries on the Global Gender Gap Report in 2017,^[2] and 139 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index in 2015.^[3] Many of the inequalities are result of extreme poverty and traditional gender norms centred on a patrilineal and patriarchal kinship system in rural areas.^[4]

Bangladesh has achieved significant advancements in political empowerment, ranking seventh globally with a commendable gender parity rate of 55.2%. Over the past 50 years, the country has witnessed a woman serving as head of state for an impressive duration of 29.3 years, which stands as the longest period in the world.^[5] Gender parity in school enrollment has seen significant improvement. Bangladesh has also put in place regulations to protect women's rights and privileges. As access to education for women increases, the momentum to boost women's participation in the labor force continues to grow.^[6] Bangladesh has experienced a substantial transformation, marked by the gradual expansion of opportunities for women over the past few decades. Multiple factors have converged to bring about transformative advancements in women's empowerment within the nation.^[6]

Although the Constitution of Bangladesh states that women have equal footing with men in all spheres of public life, it also recognizes religious personal laws, which are unequal to women. Four significant events in the life of a woman: marriage; divorce; custody of children; and, inheritance rights are governed by personal laws.^[7]

In recent years, several laws have been put in place to reduce the amount of violence against women and girls. Early in 2011, a Division Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court ordered every incident of eve-teasing to be considered sexual harassment. It also ordered an amendment to the Prevention and of Repression on Women and Children Act of 2000 to include the act of stalking in its provisions. Other laws protecting Bangladeshi women include the Dowry Prohibition Act 1980.^[8]

In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly adopted CEDAW as an international bill of rights for women. It defines what constitutes discrimination against women and creates an agenda for states to end discrimination worldwide. States that ratify CEDAW are legally bound to put its provisions into practice and are obligated to submit national status reports every 4 years^[9]

On 6 November 1984, Bangladesh ratified CEDAW with reservations on Articles 2, 13.1[a], 16.1[c], and [f] due to conflicts with Sharia law of Islam.^[10][11] Since ratification, Bangladesh has undergone milestone changes in gender equality. In 2009, a public interest litigation case brought by the Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association challenged the High Court to step in and take action as there was no national law against sexual harassment. CEDAW became the centre of the Court's deliberations, and particular interest in CEDAW's Article 11 on equality in employment and the CEDAW Committee's General Recommendation no. 19 on violence against women was given. Based on these principles, the Court issued sexual harassment guidelines for the whole country, which will remain when legislation is passed.^[12] Bangladesh has also used CEDAW to help attain gender parity in primary school enrollment and has as a goal for 2015, to eliminate all gender disparities in secondary education.^[13]

In 2011, 24% of births were attended by a professional health physician.^[3] Sex selective health care and infanticide suggest a correlation between the number of females to males in Bangladesh. In Europe where men and women are given similar health care and nutrition, women outnumber men 105:100. In Bangladesh, that ratio is 95:100. In terms of the population, that ratio accounts for approximately 5 million missing women.^[8] Economist Amartya Sen argues that this low ratio is primarily due to insufficient health care provided for young girls but nowadays NGOs are encouraging equal health care.^[14] He reported that men, followed by boys, is the largest group of people admitted into hospitals. Women family members are less likely to receive modern medical care and are generally recipients of traditional remedies.^[14]

The health situation for urban women is worse than that for rural women, especially those living in slums. The urban population living in the slum areas do not have adequate sanitation, water and health facilities which results in poor health.^[15]

In 2011, the population with at least a secondary education was 30.8% for women and 39.3% for men.^[3] Due to poverty, literacy rates have remained low. In the span of 30 years (1970 to 2000), the female-male literacy ratio has more than doubled, from 0.30 to 0.61.^[4] While levels remain low, there is a more rapid increase of educational attainment for women than men. Enrollment of girls are rising in schools and colleges. However, due to financial constraints and the lack of earning opportunities for educated women, the rationale in the Bangladesh family to educate a boy over a girl still persists. Other impediments to educational attainment for women include early marriage, cultural norms, and religious orthodoxy. Participation in technical disciplines (regarded as men's domain) in areas such as engineering and agriculture is unequal as well. As of 1997, the student population at technical universities is only 9% female.^[15]

Labor force participation for females has been driven primarily by the growth of approved export industry jobs in textiles and the spread of micro financing operations by NGOs including the Grameen Bank. Women's participation in high skill, managerial, and government executive positions have increased only to a limited extent.^[4] Income inequalities between women and men are still existent in Bangladesh. The 2012 Human Development Report shows that in the small business sector, for every dollar earned by a male, women make 12 cents in comparison.^[16] Over time, however, gender earning gaps have decreased in favour of women.^[4] Despite the changes that have come with the demand for women in the export industry, women are generally unseen outside the domestic sphere. This is especially true in rural Bangladesh. While labour force increase has accounted for higher percentages for females than males, terms of equality are measured in various areas beyond employment. Their status and position is also measured in terms of education, income, assets, health, and the role they play in the family and in society. These characteristics are representative of the amount of political power and social prestige a woman is accorded and thus the extent to which she can influence decision-making within the home and in the community.^[15]

Right after independence, the Bangladesh Civil Service initially had a 10% quota for women who were victims of the war. However, this quota faced backlash when it was increased to 30% and expanded to include all women in 1985.^[17] In 2018, the High Court abolished the quota due to a students' movement, but it was restored in June 2024. However, by July 2024, the quota was abolished again by the Appellate Division due to a mass uprising.^[18]

Since the 1970s, microcredit institutions like Grameen Bank and BRAC have been pivotal in poverty alleviation in Bangladesh,^[19] reaching 59% of borrowers by 2005.^[20] The $2.1 billion industry offers collateral-free loans,^[19] primarily targeting women to empower families in a patriarchal society.^[19] While these initiatives align with Millennium Development Goals, they can also increase debt and financial instability. Issues such as rapid repayment demands and client poaching risk exacerbating poverty, as seen in the 2010 microcredit crisis in India.^[21][19][22] Additionally, husbands often control loans intended for women, limiting their financial independence and perpetuating inequality.^[21]

The garment sector in Bangladesh represents 77% of total exports and is the largest industry in the country.^[23] Low wages and lax adherence to labor laws have led to highly competitive labor costs. Unmarried women from rural areas make up the majority of the workforce, as they are preferred over men in this sector.^[24]

Female workers encounter unique challenges, such as unsafe transportation, inadequate housing, and a hostile work environment. Sexual harassment and violence in the workplace are serious concerns, with 161 rape cases reported in 1998 by Dhaka Metropolitan Police.^[24]

Since the 1990s, women have become increasingly influential in the political arena. From 1991 to 2024, all the prime minister elections have been won by two female prime ministers, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.^[25]

Despite these successes, there remain several factors that limit women's political participation. The political culture based on vengeance, distrust and corruption has ideological, political, religious and institutional dimensions that are rooted in the whole of society. The result is an institutionalisation of violence as a means of political expression. In 2007, 192 cases of women being attacked with acid were registered. Intimidation by conservative parties and religious and socio-cultural norms are used to cut down and intimidate women, limiting their rights to vote. High rates of illiteracy have also acted as limiting factors.^[26]

There are 50 reserved seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, which has increased the participation of women in parliament. Although 15 reserved seats were added to the Constitution in 1972 for a period of only ten years,^[27] this number has gradually increased to 50 and is set to remain until 2043.^[28] The reserved seats have been challenged multiple times in the Supreme Court as the members are not elected directly by voters.^[29][30] However, this system has remained in place.^[31]

90% of the Bangladesh population adheres to Islam.^[32][15] Veiling remains a domain of contestation in regards to whether it serves as a vehicle of empowerment or discrimination.^[33] While seen in Western discourse as restrictive of women's rights, some claim that burkas allow for better freedom of movement in Bangladesh.^[34]

• Bangladeshi society

• Women in Bangladesh
• Feminism in Bangladesh
• Education in Bangladesh
• Child marriage in Bangladesh
• Women in Islam