Path for women from education to leadership must be made smoother: Zubaida Rahman

Dr Zubaida Rahman, vice-president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and a physician, has stressed ensuring equal opportunities for every girl and woman in cities and villages. She said the path for women from education to employment and leadership must be made easier and smoother.

She made the remarks on Thursday (5 November) as chief guest at an event of the 30th US Trade Show 2026 at the Crystal Ballroom of Hotel InterContinental in the capital.

Dr Zubaida Rahman said women's progress cannot be measured only by how many women have reached high positions; what matters is how many more women are able to follow them and move forward.

She said equal opportunities are not open to every girl and woman in urban areas and in rural Bangladesh. Millions of women in the country's 90,049 villages are still cut off from the mainstream economy, although they are keen to contribute to the economy and to fulfil their own aspirations, she noted.

Presenting the picture of women's education, she said that in Bangladesh in 2012, 34.9 percent of girls dropped out at secondary level and 22.5 percent at higher-secondary level. According to World Bank data from 2024, the gross enrolment rate of women in higher education is 25.8 percent.

Girls therefore need continuous support at every stage beyond school into higher education and working life, she said. Merely obtaining a degree does not by itself create job security, she added.

She said education is the main foundation of women's empowerment. Quality education for girls in literacy, science and technology must be ensured, alongside opportunities for them to ask questions, innovate and lead.

Increasing girls' participation in sports and cultural activities is also essential, she said, because it builds necessary skills such as communication, teamwork, discipline, accountability, empathy and leadership.

Stressing women's economic independence, Dr Zubaida Rahman said economic independence is not limited to earning an income. The ability to earn, save, make financial decisions and build one's own future is also part of it. An environment must be created for women to acquire new skills at work and expand their opportunities, she said.

She also said that alongside various government initiatives for women's empowerment, health services and employment opportunities need to be expanded. An initiative is under way to recruit about 100,000 health workers, 80 percent of whom will be women. Recruiting 25,000 professional midwives will also help improve health services for women and children, she said.

Highlighting the need for balance between women's careers and family responsibilities, she said family duties must not become an obstacle or a punishment in a woman's career path. Women's freedom to work and the necessary support must be ensured.

Pointing to the changing reality of technology, she said artificial intelligence, digital services and new technologies are changing the nature of work. Ensuring women's active participation and leadership there is essential to make the future economy more inclusive and innovative.

Zubaida Rahman said women's progress is a shared responsibility. Educational institutions can create new opportunities for girls, and families can encourage them to dream bigger. Everyone together must build an effective connection between education, employment and leadership, she said.

Present on stage at the event were Rupali Haque Chowdhury, president of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Su Siong, president and managing director of Chevron Bangladesh, Rubaba Dowla, country managing director of Oracle for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and Nazia Sultana, country manager of Mastercard.