The Bangladesh government remains committed to advancing women’s participation in technology, even with a cautious approach to the 2025-2026 budget, said Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, during a seminar titled “Women in Technology” organized by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) in Dhaka’s Motijheel.
Despite preparing a cautious budget, Shish Haider emphasized that the government would continue funding projects designed to enhance women’s tech skills, boost their economic participation, and promote their empowerment. He mentioned that 21 projects focused on women’s development were currently underway under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication, and Information Technology, all aimed at equipping women with ICT-based knowledge and skills.
Praising the FBCCI for hosting the seminar, Shish Haider highlighted the importance of women’s participation in the tech sector, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He called for greater collaboration between the ICT Division and FBCCI in areas like innovation, research, and development.
Nurun Nahar Chowdhury, additional secretary (development) at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, shared insights into the social challenges that women face. She pointed out that women often face barriers within their households and communities, urging a shift in mindset to enable their participation in the digital transformation.
A business delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Selwa Al-Hazzaa, CEO of SDM, a health-tech service provider, also participated in the seminar. Selwa shared her experiences of leveraging technology for healthcare and women’s empowerment in Saudi Arabia and announced plans to launch health-related tech services in Bangladesh.
FBCCI Administrator Md Hafizur Rahman, who presided over the seminar, emphasized the need for improving women’s tech skills to stay competitive globally. “As the digital economy rises, more women are entering the workforce and taking on challenging roles. To stay competitive globally, Bangladeshi women need to enhance their tech skills and build international communication networks,” he said.
In her keynote address, Rubaba Dowla, country managing director of Oracle (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan), called for stronger public-private partnerships to provide tech training, foster innovation, and support women’s entrepreneurship. She also advocated for more investment in women-centric development initiatives.
Other notable speakers included Mahreen Nasir, director of Mir Telecom; Sumaiya Tabassum Ahmed, head of sustainability at PRAN-RFL Group; Sadia Haque, CEO of ShareTrip.com; and Md Aminul Islam, assistant professor at Bangladesh University of Health Sciences.
The seminar concluded with a thank-you note from Zakir Hossain Nayon, president of the Bangladesh CNG Machineries Importers Association, acknowledging the valuable contributions of all participants to the discussion.
