Workplaces to Himalayas, women keep facing barriers

Women in Bangladesh continue to face an “extra mile” of institutional resistance despite proving their abilities in fields ranging from journalism and forensic medicine to sports and politics, speakers said at an event yesterday.

Marking International Women’s Day 2026, the event -- organised by Prothom Alo and supported by City Alo -- was held at the Chhayanaut Auditorium in the capital.

At the event, speakers highlighted the administrative and social barriers that still hinder women’s progress in Bangladesh.

Dr Mumtaz Ara, associate professor of forensic medicine at Dhaka Medical College, pointed to the critical shortage of female forensic experts.

We are still asked how five women can travel to the Himalayas ‘alone’. Since we do not have a male companion with us, society assumes we are alone.

Yasmin Lisa Member of an expedition of  team comprising five women

Having conducted more than 1,000 autopsies, she said the lack of female doctors in medico-legal examinations, particularly in rape cases, directly obstructs the judicial process.

“When conducting examinations for rape victims, female doctors are required. There is even a High Court order regarding this. Yet the number of female physicians specialising in this field remains very low,” she said.

Dr Ara said increasing female participation in forensic medicine could significantly speed up the judicial process.

Responding to a question about pressure to alter reports in sensitive cases, she said, “You have to conquer both greed and fear. If you can overcome these two things, you can survive. I do not know what destiny holds next, but I remain steadfast.”

Zyma Islam, senior reporter at The Daily Star, reflected on her 14-year career in investigative journalism, where women remain under-represented.

“Throughout this entire time, I held on to my position by gritting my teeth,” she said. “I did this because I knew that if I left, my place would likely be filled by ten men standing in line, and there might not be a single woman to replace me.”

She said newsroom diversity is essential for comprehensive and inclusive storytelling.

The programme also celebrated a unique Himalayan expedition inspired by Begum Rokeya’s Sultana’s Dream, which was inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register in 2024.

A team of five women trekked through the Himalayas to mark the achievement. Representing the team, Yasmin Lisa spoke about the social stigma surrounding female autonomy.

“We are still asked how five women can travel to the Himalayas ‘alone’,” she said. “Because we do not have a male companion with us, society assumes we are alone.”

She also described the physical hardships of the trek, recalling that the team once went 12 hours without water after failing to melt ice in the extreme cold.

Sharmin Farhana Chowdhury, former athlete and founder of Sports for Hope and Independence (SHI), spoke about administrative challenges faced by young athletes.

Although her team recently won three gold medals and one bronze in an international competition, she said obtaining travel documents remains a major obstacle.

“Obtaining travel documents for underprivileged and differently abled children is an ordeal. It sometimes feels as if the authorities are reluctant to issue them,” she said, urging the government to prioritise such cases so athletes can represent Bangladesh internationally.

The political segment, moderated by Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Motiur Rahman, featured women who contested the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Motiur Rahman praised their courage in navigating unequal power structures and said the newspaper would continue to highlight their experiences.

Dr Manisha Chakraborty, a candidate from the Democratic Left Alliance, said the 22,486 votes she received represent a “new political current.”

“Sometimes losing can mark the beginning of a new journey towards victory. We are striving to build a society based on equality rather than power-centric politics,” she said.

Nabila Tasnid, an engineer who contested the Dhamrai constituency, described the intimidation she faced at polling stations.

Comparing her determination to the “violinist on the Titanic” who played until the end, she said, “I may have lost the count, but when people in Dhamrai told me, ‘You are the MP of our hearts,’ I knew I had won the battle that truly matters.”

Mahia Juned, additional managing director of City Bank, spoke about the bank’s efforts to promote financial literacy and economic opportunities for women.

She said City Bank is the first institution in Bangladesh to receive EDGE Certification, an international standard for gender equality.

Juned also mentioned a pilot project with UNFPA in which 120 underprivileged girls were trained in pharmacy and later recruited.

“True change is possible through empathy and by creating opportunities for one another in the workplace,” she said.

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Tamara Hasan Abed, chairperson of the board of trustees of BRAC University, and Rupali Haque Chowdhury, chairperson of the Prothom Alo Trust.

Political leaders who shared their experiences included Barrister Rumeen Farhana, newly elected MP for Brahmanbaria-2; Taslima Akhter, candidate for Dhaka-12 and president of Bangladesh Garment Sramik Sanghati; and former upazila chairman Sabira Sultana, candidate for Jashore-2.