The European Union (EU) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) joined up with business leaders in an attempt to bring together the top companies and promote more action on women’s employment across all industries in Bangladesh’s private sector.
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), AkijBashir Group, Bata Bangladesh, BRAC Bank, City Bank, DBL Group, Eastern Bank, Energypac Electronics, Fakir Knitwears, IDCOL, IPDC, Mutual Trust Bank, PRAN Group, Prime Bank, Singer, Standard Group, and Urmi Group, with a combined workforce of over 149,000 employees, have joined the partnership.
According to a press release, they established a network on Wednesday in Dhaka called “Partnership for Women’s Employment: The Business of Equity”.
The two-year collaboration will spur economic expansion and inclusivity, assisting in the empowerment of women throughout Bangladesh.
Zareen Tasnim, programme lead, IFC, Bangladesh, said, “This partnership will help equip businesses with practical knowhow on closing corporate gender gaps while contributing to companies’ bottom line, productivity, and growth, leading the way for a thriving private sector anchored in equity and inclusion.”
“The partnership for women’s employment aims to boost women participation by fostering their advancement and retention and engage in actively dismantling gender-specific economic barriers by cultivating respectful workplaces,” said Charles Whiteley, ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Bangladesh.
“This will present an opportunity to build on the country’s growth and success story and unlock the immense potential of women in the workforce, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future,” averred Kamran T Rahman, president of MCCI.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
