Revise policies to boost women participation in IT sector: Experts

The Bangladesh government should change, revise and review its policies to boost female participation in the country’s information technology (IT) sector.

Speakers made the recommendation at a round table titled “Use of ICT in Empowering Women in Today’s World,” adding that initiatives are needed to bring women into the IT ecosystem while they are at school, and facilitate women participation at every policy making level.

The event, organised by the BASIS Women’s Forum, took place on Sunday at the conference room of Bangladesh Association Software and Information Services (BASIS).

Presiding over the programme, Senior Vice President and Convener of BASIS Women’s Forum Samira Zuberi Himika said, “Information technology is a promising sector, but women participation here is very low.

“This participation has to be increased and for that we have to work for them from the school level. The number of women at the policy making level – both at private and public sectors – have to be increased, and for that, women skill development in ICT must be ensured.”

She added, “The government policy should be changed, reviewed, revised if necessary and the BASIS will jointly work with other forums, stakeholders to solve the prevailing problems.”

The meeting was segmented in four parts. DIG of Bangladesh Police Amena Begum, Supreme Court Barrister Najmus Salehin, psychologist at National Institute of Mental Health Mekhla Sarker and other influential women from different sectors joined the discussion.