Innovation and technology hold immense potential for accelerating gender equality and women’s empowerment, which is a prerequisite for sustainable development in Bangladesh, said Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA.
“Digital technologies can offer solutions that can be used to meet women’s needs and promote their empowerment. For example, digital literacy and skills help women move to superior and more complex positions in their workplaces,” he said.
He also said digital transformation has paved the way for women to develop their skills. It’s encouraging to note that the participation of women at the management level in the RMG industry is increasing.
He made the comments while speaking a dialogue on “innovation and technology for gender equality and minority rights” as a special guest.
Gloria Jharna Sarker, MP, Shehela Pervin PPM, Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police, Police Headquarters, Gordon Shannon, Head of Programme Development and Funding Global, Christian Aid in Bangladesh, and Sara Hossain, Honorary Executive Director, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) also spoke at the dialogue organized by Christian Aid and its partners in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on March 13.
In his address, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the ready-made garment industry had huge contributions to women empowerment in Bangladesh by creating their employment in the formal sector.
“Their financial ability has earned them dignity in families, given them a voice in decision making and freedom to take their decision,” he said.
“The RMG industry is a bright example of how digital technologies can make a difference to women’s empowerment and rights. Garment factories are now paying their workers in mobile financial services (MFS) accounts, enabling them to have full control of their money which they can now send to their families and save for the future,” Faruque Hassan said.
In the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution, the manufacturing landscape is being hugely dominated by technologies with many automatic machines and software being integrated into production processes to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly, he said.
It’s important to create opportunities for women to adapt to the changing trends through skilling and reskilling so that they can have equal space in the workplace, he added.
“As the government has envisioned for a developed Bangladesh, this vision cannot be achieved without leaving women behind and playing their active roles,” Faruque Hassan said.
