Zaima Rahman said that Bangladesh needs sustainable national development rather than symbolic success stories, emphasizing that women must be placed at the center of policy, planning, and public life. She made the remarks on Sunday while speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Women Shaping the Nation: Policy, Possibility, and the Future of Bangladesh,” held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka. This was her first participation in a policy dialogue, she noted.
Addressing structural inequality, Zaima Rahman said that systems related to security, safety, and transportation are largely designed to ensure men’s success, forcing women to adapt rather than being accommodated. “This world is not only for men to succeed—it is for women too,” she said, calling for women to step forward and claim space in public and political life.
Reflecting on women’s empowerment, she spoke about the influence of her family, citing the roles played by former President Ziaur Rahman in expanding women’s employment opportunities and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in advancing girls’ education through stipend programs. She also referenced the professional and social contributions of women in her own family, describing the home as the first place where ideas about gender roles are formed.
During the discussion, Zaima Rahman highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, particularly the risks of displacement and trafficking. She said that 78 percent of women experience online harassment—especially on social media—and noted the lack of adequate legal protection and safe complaint mechanisms. She also pointed out that many women are forced to leave their careers at critical moments due to caregiving responsibilities.
Concluding her remarks, Zaima Rahman said that empowerment cannot remain limited to classrooms, offices, or policy discussions. “If Bangladesh wants real progress, it must move beyond symbolic narratives,” she said. “Empowerment must reach our homes, our institutions, and our mindset—and that responsibility belongs to all of us.”
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