Staff Correspondent

Women lag in the job market in engineering and technology sectors in the country. According to data from the U.S.-based Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2019-2029, employment in the four key areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is expected to increase by 4 percent by 2029, compared to other professions.

However, despite the growth of information technology in Bangladesh, women’s access to STEM-related professions remains much lower than that of men. In Bangladesh, women's representation in STEM is only 21 percent, highlighting significant gender and workplace inequality—issues that experts view as major obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meeting future challenges, it said.

This perspective emerged during a recent event titled 'Role Model Talk and Panel Discussion,' held at East Delta University in Chattogram city recently.

The event was organized by Policy Exchange Bangladesh, LightCastle Partners, the international business consultancy firm, A2i, Ten Minutes School, and the UK-based consultancy firm DevLearn, under the SheSTEM Consortium.

The discussion focused on four key challenges contributing to women’s underrepresentation in STEM: lack of latest curriculum, inadequate research facilities, limited connectivity between the university-industry sector, and gender-biased social stigma.

Additionally, several other issues were highlighted during the discussion, including the absence of role models for women who have pursued STEM careers in the country, the lack of gender-inclusive recruitment policies in most organizations (or poor implementation of existing policies), and concerns about inadequate facilities and safety for women in the workplace.

Jurriaan Middelhoff, Ambassador for Youth, Education & Work, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, graced the session.

Students and industry experts from various sectors actively participated in the event.

Key figures from East Delta University, including Sayeed Al Noman, Founder & Vice Chairman; Professor Dr Mohammed Nazim Uddin, Vice Chancellor; Rawnak Afroze, Director of External Engagement and Assistant Professor at the School of Business Administration; Md Mofazzal Uddin, Senior Assistant Director of IT & Innovations, and Bijon Islam, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LightCastle Partners, attended the session, highlighting the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within both academic and industry sectors.

Over 50 students from the university participated in the event.

It was noted that women in Bangladesh have made significant progress in the workforce compared to India and Pakistan, with women representing 42 percent of the workforce in Bangladesh. In contrast, India and Pakistan have rates of 24 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

However, the presence of women in STEM in Bangladesh remains disproportionately low. According to 2019 data from the World Bank, only 21 percent of women are represented in STEM fields in Bangladesh, compared to 43 percent in India, 41 percent in Sri Lanka, and 37 percent in Indonesia. Bridging this gap is crucial to fully leveraging the country’s talent potential, as well as ensuring women’s empowerment and fostering inclusive economic growth.

The panel discussion highlighted that nearly half of the girls interested in STEM fields are deterred from pursuing careers in these areas, as they do not believe they can develop into scientists or industry leaders. The absence of role models in the field exacerbates this lack of confidence.

STEM is a multi-year consortium-driven initiative that aims to create opportunities for women in science and engineering-based careers and equip them with the necessary skills. The programme also advocates for the expansion of specialized skills and the creation of more inclusive workplaces for female university students.

This project not only encourages women’s interest in STEM but, more importantly supports their growth, development, and progress.