Women empowerment key to SDGs: experts
Women business leaders and entrepreneurs yesterday called for full inclusion of womenfolk in the country's fast-paced economic growth to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 related to gender equality and women empowerment.
They said Bangladesh has made commendable success in achieving women empowerment in the last couple of decades though more government support is needed to establish a gender-equal society.
The Bangladesh chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organisation (EO), a peer-to-peer global network of entrepreneurs, organised the event styled “She Rockers MyEO Women Summit” and “She Rockers MyEO Women SDG Award 2019” at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden in the capital.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the summit as the chief guest while Global Chairperson of EO, Bubu Andres, was the guest of honour.
The minister said Bangladesh is becoming a role model for women empowerment in the world under dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as women in the country are now in the leadership positions at every sphere of national and social life.
Describing various far-reaching and wide-ranging measures taken by the government to ensure the holistic empowerment of women, Momen said the government introduced gender budget that is unique in the world.
“Women's empowerment is one of the 10 special initiatives of our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the progress of which she oversees herself,” he said.
EO Bangladesh is striving to provide a platform for women entrepreneurship which is quite aligned with the prime minister's vision, the minister added.
Andres highly lauded the achievement of Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs and said women are largely helping the country to be on the right path of development.
“Women are leading the world staying side by side with men and putting their mark of excellence everywhere,” President of EO Bangladesh Chapter, Farzana Chowdhury, said.
“But barely do we know about their success and challenges throughout this journey,” she said, adding that women empowerment is very important to achieve the country's desired development goals. “No change is possible excluding women,” she added.
“She Rockers is an initiative to honour and inspire entrepreneurship of women of Bangladesh as talent must be nurtured, achievements and endeavour must be encouraged.”
Two panel discussions were also held on women empowerment and equality of men and women.
At the end of the summit, the EO Bangladesh chapter will confer awards to 21 Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs in recognition of their contribution to achieving the SDG 5.
The EO, a global business network of more than 13,000 leading entrepreneurs in 58 countries, enables business owners to learn from each other.
EO Bangladesh chapter started its journey in 2016.
