Bangladesh

Bangladesh, a South Asian country, is one of the largest deltas in the world. It is mostly bordered by India on three sides, with the Bay of Bengal to the south and a relatively smaller border with Myanmar on the southeastern side.  Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries,  with a population of 165.16 million (BBS-2022)  and 1,350 people per square km. The country’s main sources of income are agriculture, the service sector and the textile industries.

Bangladesh society is deeply rooted in patriarchy, with male domination in every sphere of life, leading to an unequal power distribution among sexes. Regressive stereotyped believes and values are impeding gender equality.  They manifests in various forms, discriminatory laws, practices, violence against women and girls, both at home and in public, unequal property rights and unequal wages.  They restrict women and girls economic, political, social and cultural opportunities. 

While the constitution affirms gender equality, religion-based family laws on marriage, divorce and inheritance continue to discriminate against women. Although there is an increasing trend of women’s mobility and participation in formal institutions, men’s gender-based violence against women – such as rape, child marriage and dowry related abuse  – remains widespread, posing challenges to the progress.

Women’s economic powerlessness often makes them more vulnerable and dependent on male members. Men are also subject to stereotypical expectations, including the belief in their supremacy over women. As a result, gender equality remains one of the major obstacles to sustainable social, economic and political development in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is still a predominantly rural country, but its urban population is rising rapidly with number of people living in slums lacking in wealth, power and social connections and basic services. They are often engaged in low pay, informal sectors and beyond the purview of law. As a consequence, they have limited rights and entitlements with respect to minimum wages, standard working hours, compensation, leave and other entitlements and benefits. The formal sector is more organized than the informal sector, however, it still faces challenges including long working hours and inadequate welfare issues.

Although Bangladesh is not a significant contributor in terms of emitting greenhouse gases, it has become a ‘victim’ of global climate change. Hazards are turning into disasters due to reduced resilience capacity. People are pushed to migrate both internally and externally; and often face exploitations. Those who stay, mostly women, bear a double burden as they must act as bread earners and caregivers. Community-based adaptation initiatives often lack women’s participation, and they are heavily male dominated. Limited access to fresh water due to increased salinity in southern parts is also a reality. Additionally, environmental pollution caused by growing industrialization is further worsening the situation.

Diakonia and our partner organisations are working toward gender justice, human rights, and community resilience in disaster-prone areas. Feminist leadership, youth engagement, and climate advocacy are at the core of our programme, with gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and environmental protection integrated across all areas of work.

We aim to empower rights holders by raising awareness about the unequal structures that sustain poverty and injustice—and what can be done to change them. Through our partners, we promote gender equality, human rights, and disaster resilience, while strengthening communities and fostering people’s participation in socio-economic, cultural, and political governance processes. Our work is guided by a rights-based approach.

To promote gender justice, we work to prevent gender-based violence, including gender stereotyping and discriminatory laws and policies. These issues are tackled at home, in workplaces, and in public spaces through individual, social, and legal actions. Among young people, especially girls, we promote bicycling, self-defence training, and various sports including football.

In advancing human rights, we raise awareness about the rights and entitlements of workers, ethnic and religious minorities, and other marginalised communities in both rural and urban areas through mediation and litigations. Ensuring decent working conditions and advocating for workers’ rights – including employment benefits, compensation for workplace deaths and injuries and workplace safety standards – are key priorities.

Our work is carried out in collaboration with partner organisations at national and local levels, with a special focus on disadvantaged women and young people. We engage community leaders, civil society, local government, media, and government authorities to drive meaningful change.

By fostering grassroots initiatives, we have strengthened community-based actions, supporting groups such as gender development forums, social entrepreneur networks, adolescent groups, student volunteer initiatives, and village development committees. These groups monitor and respond to violence against women, raise awareness of human rights, and advocate for access to social services. Through this focus, we have seen successful cases of communities preventing child marriages and violence against women.