Experts stress bottom-up development of girls' agency, urges end to social influence

A roundtable titled "Turning Girls' Voices into Decisions and Action" was held at a hotel in the capital on Thursday, with a focus on creating institutional space for girls to enjoy their sovereign autonomy.

Organized by the Education and Cultural Society (ECS), the panelists also showcased findings from a three-year participatory research project conducted in Feni with support from the Brookings Institution’s Center for Universal Education.

Policymakers, educators, and civil society leaders took part in the session.

ECS Executive Director Kazi Nasrin Siddiqa stressed that girls' agency is shaped by families, schools, and social norms rather than individual effort alone. "Our goal is to build a bridge from the last mile to the top floor so local evidence directly informs policy," she said.

Key discussant Barrister Jahrat Adib Chowdhury MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, pledged her support for ECS’s research and girls' empowerment initiatives.

Participants highlighted major barriers, including child marriage and dropout rates, while calling for expanded skill-based education, STEM opportunities, and grassroots support systems. Young participants also shared personal experiences of overcoming social pressure to pursue higher education.

ECS said it plans to document the recommendations to drive national policy reforms.