STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Women make up only 10 percent of Bangladesh’s energy workforce, far below the global average of 32 percent.

In public utilities within the power sector, just 6 percent of staff are women, while only 16 percent of officers in the Power Division are female.

The gap is even wider in engineering roles -- only 6 percent (304 of 5,006) are women, mostly in junior posts. Just 45 serve as executive or senior engineers, mainly within the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

Against this backdrop, speakers at an event yesterday stressed the need to recognise women as key stakeholders in Bangladesh’s renewable energy transition.

They urged the government and policymakers to ensure women’s equal participation in decision-making, policy processes, and leadership positions in the energy sector.

The discussion took place at the Women and Energy Carnival 2025, organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) under its Women’s Empowerment and Energy (WEE) Project, at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Delivering the keynote address, Banasree Mitra Neogi, director of Rights and Governance Programmes at MJF, said, “It is crucial to see whether everyone’s participation in inclusive energy is being ensured. Equitable fairness is required.”

She noted that many areas of the country, such as hilly regions, still

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