Speakers at a views exchange meeting yesterday said it is vital to ensure equal participation of women in every sector in order to achieve gender equality.

The representatives from different professions and professional bodies also said males have to change their mindset towards women, and get involved in nonpaid jobs such as household chores to ease the burden of females involved in different professions.

Nari Sramik Kantha, a platform of woman workers and workers' association, in association with Karmojibi Nari and German-based Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh, arranged the event at the capital's The Daily Star Centre to mark International Women's Day to be celebrated on March 8.

One-third women participation in all sectors, including trade unions, is required to achieve the goal of equal gender participation by the year 2030, said the discus-

Reading out a written statement,

Karmojibi Nari Executive Director Rokeya Rafique said in order to ensure equal participation of women, a woman-friendly atmosphere has to be created at work-

Commitment from political and social leaders is required to ensure a gender-balanced society, said Shirin Akhter, lawmaker and convener of Nari Sramik Kantha.

Speaking as the chief guest, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the government needs to play a key role while trade unions will have to come forward to ensure the gender balance.

Jafrul Hassan, joint secretary general of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies; Farida Yasmin, general secretary of Jatiya Press Club; Franziska Korn, resident representative of FES Bangladesh; Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, director of the Department of Labour; Tania Hoq, head of women and gender studies department of Dhaka University; and Prof Shormind Neelormy of economics department of Jahangirnagar University, among others, spoke.