Support Women, Finish the Bridge

Imagine a bridge stretched halfway across a river, its foundation firm and promising, yet the second half remains incomplete. This is where many Bangladeshi women stand today, on that unfinished bridge. They have taken bold steps forward, empowered by education, reforms and opportunity. But as they approach the gap, they are often left to leap across uncertain terrain, with little institutional support, limited structural equity and heavy social expectations on their shoulders. Their leap is not one of ambition alone; it is a survival strategy, born of resilience in the absence of a system fully committed to carrying them through.

In many ways, Bangladesh has come a long way. Our constitution proudly enshrines gender equality; we have ratified global human rights instruments like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). More girls are attending school than ever, more women are working outside the home, and female leaders have left undeniable marks on the political, academic and development landscapes. Yet, beneath these impressive indicators lies a stubborn reality: women are often brought into the fold symbolically, rather than substantively. In politics, they are frequently fielded in constituencies where the odds are stacked against them. In the workforce, they are recruited for optics, not leadership, and then expected to quietly adapt to often-toxic work environments that value their presence more than their peace of mind. Such patterns render participation hollow and progress performative.

This contradiction is more than a policy problem; it is a human rights challenge. True equality is not just about entry, it is about experience. If a woman is nominated for office but denied party backing, or if she is hired into a role where her opinions are not heard and her safety is not guaranteed, her right to equal participation has been compromised. These are not isolated inconveniences; they are systemic breaches of rights to work with dignity, to participate in public life meaningfully and to live free from discrimination. The social twist, however, lies in how these violations are normalised and internalised. When women fail under unfair conditions, the blame is too often placed on them, not on the structures that set them up to falter. The glass cliff, the practice of handing women precarious positions doomed to fail, is a global issue, but it manifests sharply in our context. Here, the pressure to prove oneself is matched by the silence expected from those who face injustice.

Yet, despite this incomplete architecture, women in Bangladesh are not standing still. They are building their planks across the void, organising, mentoring, creating safe spaces and leading in community development, tech, media and entrepreneurship. One poignant phrase, often seen on social media and posters in co-working spaces, reads: “When praying for a job, also pray for a culture that gives you respect, growth and peace of mind.” This statement is not simply aspirational; it is intensely political. It points to the very essence of workplace justice: that having a seat at the table is meaningless if the environment is hostile, hierarchical or harmful. It recognises that mental and emotional well-being, often dismissed as “soft concerns,” are in fact foundational to any human rights-based approach to employment. And the encouraging part? This consciousness is growing, especially among younger generations who are more outspoken, values-driven and unwilling to normalise inequity.

This momentum presents a golden opportunity. The current government, which has emphasised commitments to inclusive development, is in a strong position to lead with action. It can start by strengthening and enforcing gender-sensitive workplace regulations, particularly in public institutions and the rapidly growing private sector. Gender audits should not be an occasional exercise—they must become mandatory across ministries and state bodies. Leadership quotas for women should be extended beyond symbolic representation to actual decision-making roles. The government can revitalise the National Commission on Women with meaningful resources and enforcement power. Importantly, these initiatives must be intersectional, supporting not just elite urban women but also rural women, indigenous women, women with disabilities and young women entering the workforce. Investing in mentorship programmes, scaling community-based leadership training and promoting flexible working conditions are practical steps that can dramatically shift the narrative from struggle to sustainability.

We must also remember that transformation cannot come from policy alone. It must be cultural, social and collective. Men must become allies, not gatekeepers. Educational institutions must teach not just skills, but empathy and equity. The media must spotlight not only success stories but the quiet, consistent battles fought behind the scenes by women reclaiming space in boardrooms, classrooms and union halls. Institutions must learn that inclusion is not a finished checklist; it is a daily commitment. And society must redefine strength, not as silence in the face of discrimination, but as the courage to challenge it constructively.

So, as we look at that half-built bridge once more, the view is no longer bleak—it is full of promise. We have come far enough to know what real progress looks like. The foundation is strong. What is needed now is completion, with bricks made of policy, empathy, accountability and shared resolve. The women of Bangladesh are already moving forward with grace, tenacity and vision. They are not waiting for perfection; they are working for it. And if the bridge is finished, through state, society and citizen efforts together, they will not need to leap anymore. They will walk forward, confidently and collectively, across a bridge built not just for them, but by them.

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The writer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at IUBAT and pursuing a Masters in Human Rights and Multiculturalism at University of South Eastern Norway