Women, Higher Education and Democracy in Bangladesh

Focus Asia November, 2020, pp. 6

Abstract

The constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh emphasizes that women need to be adequately represented in all walks of life, including higher education. It is obviously crucial for democracy that women are able to express their views and opinions in the discourses which shape public policy. The question is to what extent the higher educational institutions in Bangladesh have facilitated the participation of women in the higher educational public sphere. Closer inspection however reveals that the socio-cultural norms of Bangladeshi society have prevented women from fully participating in the public sphere of higher educational institutions. The case of Bangladesh illustrates that there is a pertinent need for cultural transformation which facilitates change in the attitude towards women. And there is a compelling need to carry out a democratic restructuring of the educational institutions of Bangladesh.

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