Bangladesh’s progress in women’s education and workforce participation has been significant, but deep structural and cultural barriers still hinder gender equality. This message set the tone for a roundtable hosted by the Department of Women and Gender Studies (DWGS), University of Dhaka, marking its 25th anniversary under the theme “SDG 5 at the Crossroads: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward for Gender Equality in Bangladesh.”
Held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Dean’s Office Meeting Room, the event brought together academics, policymakers, gender experts, development partners, and alumni to reflect on Bangladesh’s achievements and remaining challenges in realizing Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Speakers emphasized that progress must now move beyond policy documents to systemic transformation, with intersectionality and inclusivity guiding every aspect of gender policy and national development.
Dr. Tania Haque
Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka
“The Department of Women and Gender Studies (DWGS), under the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) at the University of Dhaka, is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to fostering critical perspectives on women and gender issues within both academic and activist contexts. Established at the turn of the 21st century under the visionary leadership of Emeritus Professor Dr. Najma Chowdhury, Professor Dr. Nazmunnessa Mahtab, and several other distinguished Dhaka University faculty members and Bangladeshi feminists, the Department holds the distinction of being the first institution in Bangladesh to offer tertiary-level education in Women and Gender Studies.
Since its inception, DWGS has played a transformative role in advancing gender awareness and equality on campus and beyond. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, the Department has actively contributed to the University’s broader gender-equality initiatives. Over the years, DWGS has organized numerous seminars, workshops, and collaborative training programs in partnership with NGOs, government institutions, and international organizations to strengthen gender-responsive policy and practice. Through its commitment to education, research, and advocacy, the Department continues to uphold the principles of SDG 5—empowering women, ensuring equal opportunities, and inspiring social transformation.
Twenty-five years since its founding, the Department of Women and Gender Studies stands as a testament to an enduring academic vision rooted in equality, empowerment, and the pursuit of a more just and inclusive society.
The Department actively integrates the principles of SDG 5 into its teaching, research, and outreach, striving to eliminate gender-based discrimination, promote women’s leadership, and foster equitable participation in all spheres of life.Today, the Department of Women and Gender Studies stands as a beacon of academic excellence, advocacy, and empowerment—a symbol of the enduring pursuit of equality and social transformation envisioned in SDG 5 and the broader Sustainable Development Goals.”
Dr. Sayed Saikh Imtiaz
Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka
“Bangladesh’s progress on SDG 5: Gender Equality is slowing, with several key indicators showing deep structural challenges. While acknowledging improvements between 2015 and 2025, particularly in education and digital access, he stressed that the pace is far from sufficient to meet global targets. Alarming global projections showing that, at the current rate,it may take 286 years to close the overall gender gap, 300 years to end child marriage, and over a century to achieve equality in de-cision-making. Gender equality is not a women’s issue; it is a human issue. Without it, no nation can achieve true development.”
Dr. Taiabur Rahman
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka
“DWGS has long been one of the most dynamic and intellectually vibrant departments of our university, nurturing generations of changemakers who are shaping policies and driving social transformation. As we move closer to the 2030 SDG deadline, I believe academia cannot stay confined to theory; our research must translate into measurable action that ensures women’s full and equal participation in every sphere of life. At Dhaka University, our commitment to gender equality is visible in real, everyday improvements, from modern, gender-responsive washrooms and menstrual hygiene support to fully disability-accessible facilities. These initiatives reflect our belief that sustainable development begins with dignity, safety, and inclusivity. If we truly want national progress, gender equality must remain at the heart of our policies, institutions, and practices.”
Dilara Begum,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
“Numerous DWGS alumni now occupy pivotal roles across government ministries, civil society, and international organizations, driving reforms in gender budgeting, social protection, and inclusive policy making, which are critical targets of SDG 5. Their expertise enhances the government’s capacity to implement strategies aimed at eradicating harmful practices, promoting women’s leadership, and empowering marginalized populations.
As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of DWGS, we celebrate not merely an academic entity but a transformative partnership rooted in scholarship, equity, and national development.”
Dr Sabiha Yeasmin Rosy,
Chairperson and Associate Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka
“As I reflect on the 25-year journey of DWGS, I am reminded of how vital our continuous work has been in advancing gender equality, justice, and sustainable development. Over the years, we have combined rigorous research with deep community engagement, promoting gender-sensitive knowledge that helps drive socio-economic and political transformation while contributing meaningfully to policy development. Our commitment to intersectionality and inclusive pedagogy has guided every step of this journey. This jubilee truly celebrates 25 years of struggle, solidarity, and social change. Moving forward, I firmly believe that collaboration between academia and activism remains essential in building an equal future, one where sustainable development is achieved through national progress.”
Farah Kabir,
Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh
“Department of Women and Gender Studies’ (DWGS) work directly aligns with the core targets of SDG 5—ending discrimination and violence, eliminating harmful practices, ensuring bodily autonomy, and securing women’s full participation in public and economic life.
SDG 5 cannot be achieved in isolation. The success of all SDGs depends on a strong policy framework that integrates gender equality across sectors—education, employment, public services, governance, climate resilience, and social protection.
Domestic violence, sexual violence, and child marriage remain some of the greatest barriers to SDG 5. Despite decades of activism, these issues persist due to weak implementation, outdated social norms, and insufficient institutional accountability.
We have spent 20–25 years raising awareness, but implementation still lags far behind.”
Tapati Saha,
Unit Manager at UN Women Bangladesh
“Effective governance must be inclusive, and DWGS is leading the way. The department has nurtured a generation of experts who are transforming public institutions and policymaking through a gender lens. As a hub of feminist knowledge, DWGS bridges research and action, ensuring that evidence shapes policies for truly gender-responsive governance.”
Dr Fauzia Moslem,
President, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad
“Gender sensitivity in everyday life is deteriorating in some areas. When we were student, male and female students would sit together without hesitation—something that is no longer commonly observed now. The responsibility for gender equality does not rest on women alone. The state, society, political institutions, and communities must share equal responsibility.
Reserving at least 5% women in parliamentary seats, a small but symbolic step toward dismantling institutional exclusion. Political parties to become far more gender-sensitive in their agendas, policy priorities, and leadership structures.
The state must remain deeply committed to gender justice, Without this commitment, achieving SDG 5 will remain out of reach.”
Sabina Parvin,
Social Development Specialist, The World Bank,
“Bangladesh continues its path toward economic growth, gender justice must remain a central pillar of development planning. Without addressing inequality and ensuring women’s participation in all areas of life, the country risks leaving half its population behind.
DWGS serves as a critical thought partner in promoting inclusive and equitable development. Through its integrated focus on research, advocacy, and capacity-building, DWGS empowers women, challenges patriarchal norms, and fosters equitable social structures. The department’s work demonstrates how academic inquiry, when coupled with policy engagement and development expertise, can create measurable change, supporting the transformative vision of SDG 5.”
Sharmin Islam,
Gender Team Leader, UNDP Bangladesh
“Advancing SDG 5 requires a focus on inclusive governance, women’s leadership, and the dismantling of discriminatory and harmful practices. DWGS exemplifies how academic institutions can act as catalysts for gender justice. Through its rigorous research, advocacy, and partnerships with government and development actors, DWGS continues to empower women and girls, promote social inclusion, and advance Bangladesh toward the transformative vision of SDG 5. Its work reflects UNDP Bangladesh’s commitment to creating an enabling environment where gender equality is central to sustainable development, inclusive governance, and national progress.”
Khadija Khondokher,
Senior Programme Officer at ILO Bangladesh
“The path to SDG 5 is not only a moral commitment but also an economic necessity. Women’s economic empowerment is not a side agenda—it is central to national growth. DWGS has shown how feminist knowledge can shape equitable policies. Now, we need political will, investment, and accountability to turn that knowledge into action.”
Nishat Sultana,
Programme Specialist, Plan International Bangladesh
“DWGS cultivates generations of young leaders capable of confronting discrimination and violence, challenging harmful societal practices, and advocating for the full participation of women and girls across public, social, and economic spheres: these efforts align directly with the core targets of SDG 5.”
Abu Naser Rayhan,
Programme Analyst (Gender and Child Marriage) at UNFPA Bangladesh
“DWGS advocates translating feminist theory into actionable programs, ensuring that research insights inform initiatives to combat child marriage, gender-based violence, and other harmful practices, which remain persistent barriers to achieving SDG 5. By cultivating gender-responsive leadership, promoting evidence-based policymaking, and challenging systemic inequities, DWGS contributes directly to the achievement of SDG 5 targets—ending discrimination and violence, eliminating harmful practices, and ensuring women’s full participation in all spheres of life.”
Laila Tasmia,
Advisor, Economic Cooperation and Private Sector Development, GIZ Bangladesh
“Graduates emerging from DWGS possess a sophisticated comprehension that women’s empowerment is inseparable from economic prosperity and sustainable development. The institutionalization of feminist knowledge, transformative leadership, and evidence-based research championed by DWGS is indispensable for Bangladesh’s pursuit of sustainable and gender-equitable development. Such integrative approaches are vital to realizing the transformative vision of SDG 5, ensuring that women are not merely beneficiaries of development but active architects of economic, social, and political progress,”
Salima Sultana,
Senior Project Manager, Save the Children, Bangladesh
“DWGS transcends conventional academic boundaries; it humanizes data, amplifies marginalized voices, and translates knowledge into actionable strategies for social transformation. The department’s interdisciplinary scholarship, combined with advocacy and capacity-building initiatives, ensures that evidence-based insights inform both policy frameworks and grassroots interventions, directly advancing SDG 5 targets, including the elimination of violence and harmful practices, and fostering women’s full participation in public, social, and economic life.”
Kamrun Nahar, Naripokkho
“DWGS has been instrumental in institutionalizing the realities of women’s lives in Bangladesh, addressing entrenched discrimination, systemic violence, and harmful socio-cultural practices, while simultaneously promoting women’s full and equitable participation in public, economic, and political spheres.”
Ashrafun Nahar Misti,
Founder of the Women with Disabilities Development Foundation (WDDF)
“Few academic institutions in Bangladesh have consistently addressed the complex, intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women with disabilities. DWGS has established a benchmark in ensuring that these marginalized voices are not overlooked.”
Key recommendations:
- Embed intersectionality in national gender policies
- Strengthen accountability across state institutions
- Scale up collaboration between academia and government
- Invest in women’s economic empowerment and labour rights
- Mainstream disability inclusion in all development agendas
- Combat harmful social norms through education and activism
- Promote youth and feminist leadership pipelines
- Expand cross-sector partnerships for SDG 5
- Recognize and value unpaid care work
- Reaffirm national commitment to feminist education
