Experts at a panel discussion highlighted and explored pathways to women’s formal employment in a changing economy.
HerNet Foundation and HerNet TV, in partnership with the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC), the cultural wing of the High Commission of India in Dhaka, hosted the high-impact panel discussion titled “Breaking the Barriers: Pathways to Women’s Formal Employment in a Changing Economy” at the IGCC auditorium on 11 December.
The dialogue brought together leading policymakers, corporate leaders, academics, development practitioners and mental health and social sector experts to examine practical reforms to expand women’s access to formal, secure and equitable work.
The session was moderated by Alisha Pradhan, Secretary General, HerNet Foundation and CEO, HerNet TV. In her opening, she recalled Bangladesh’s historic victory of 16 December and framed women’s economic participation as central to the country’s next phase of inclusive growth. Citing recent labour-force data, she highlighted the decline in female labour-force participation and the falling share of women in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, calling it “a structural warning sign and a moral challenge” that requires urgent, coordinated action from both public and private sectors.
On behalf of the host institution, the Director of ICCR in Dhaka, Ann Mary, welcomed the guests and reaffirmed ICCR/IGCC’s commitment to platforms that link culture, democracy and inclusive development.
The panel featured a diverse group of leaders representing climate, gender, business, academia, mental health, fashion, media and civil society, including: Rupali Chowdhury, Chairman & CEO, Berger Paints, Valentina Spinedi, Climate Specialist, UNICEF, Humaira Aziz, Gender Specialist, UNICEF, Prof. Sadia Mahjabin, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Tasnuva Ahmed, CEO, Celestial Tech, Prof. Rafiqul Islam, Jagannath University, Nazim Farhan Choudhury, ADCOM, Managing Director, A. Mashroor Huda, Managing Director, Tronix, Tootli Rahman, President, Heritage Palli NGO , Tawhida Shiropa, Founder & CEO, Moner Bondhu, Priti Chakraborty, Senior Vice President, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries; Chairman, United Medical College and Hospital, Supa Barua, Country Coordinator, Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdHNL), Adv. Masuma Akter, Fashion Designer, Sharin Naomi, Academic and Azmeeri Rezaq, Shajgoj, Chief Retail, SVP
Together, the panelists examined structural and social barriers keeping women out of formal work — from unpaid care burdens, unsafe or unreliable transport, and c
Speakers stressed the importance of building a pipeline of women from entry-level roles to mid-management and leadership positions through mentoring, targeted training, and transparent promotion criteria. Creating pathways into supervisory and technical roles, she argued, is critical if Bangladesh is to move from a low-wage model to a skills- and innovation-driven economy.
Panelists throughout the session reiterated that women’s economic empowerment is not only a human rights imperative but also essential for productivity, export competitiveness and the long-term resilience of businesses and the national economy.
In her concluding remarks, moderator Alisha Pradhan urged all sectors represented in the room — diplomats, business leaders, academics, advocates and development partners — to translate the evening’s insights into concrete institutional commitments, with measurable benchmarks and transparent progress tracking. She reiterated that the success of Bangladesh’s development trajectory would be judged not only by GDP, but by “the dignity, opportunity and agency afforded to every citizen, regardless of gender.”
