Remove barriers that hold women back
Source: The Daily Star
Bangladesh’s position in The Global Gender Gap Report 2026 should evoke serious reflection among policymakers on the state of gender gaps in the country. Although the country continues to rank first in South Asia, its global position has fallen 55 places to 79th among 145 countries, while its overall gender parity score has dropped from 77.5 percent in 2025 to 71.2 percent this year. This decline is concerning as the country climbed an extraordinary 75 ranks to the 24th position last year.
The index measures gender parity in four areas: economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. It offers an indication of where the country is making progress and where it is falling behind. Our educational attainment has reached a record 96.1 percent, up 9.3 percentage points from 2006. The country has achieved full parity in primary and secondary enrolment, although a gap remains in higher education. Health and survival, meanwhile, remains largely unchanged at 96 percent. These gains show that proper attention and effective policies can produce meaningful progress. However, this progress has not translated into equal economic opportunities for women. In fact, economic participation and opportunity remains our weakest area, with a score of just 41.9 percent, placing the country 142nd among 145 countries. Since 2006, parity in labour force participation has also fallen from 61.1 percent to 48 percent.
Bangladesh’s position in The Global Gender Gap Report 2026 should evoke serious reflection among policymakers on the state of gender gaps in the country. Although the country continues to rank first in South Asia, its global position has fallen 55 places to 79th among 145 countries, while its overall gender parity score has dropped from 77.5 percent in 2025 to 71.2 percent this year. This decline is concerning as the country climbed an extraordinary 75 ranks to the 24th position last year.
The index measures gender parity in four areas: economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. It offers an indication of where the country is making progress and where it is falling behind. Our educational attainment has reached a record 96.1 percent, up 9.3 percentage points from 2006. The country has achieved full parity in primary and secondary enrolment, although a gap remains in higher education. Health and survival, meanwhile, remains largely unchanged at 96 percent. These gains show that proper attention and effective policies can produce meaningful progress. However, this progress has not translated into equal economic opportunities for women. In fact, economic participation and opportunity remains our weakest area, with a score of just 41.9 percent, placing the country 142nd among 145 countries. Since 2006, parity in labour force participation has also fallen from 61.1 percent to 48 percent.