#GAReads | Bangladesh Empowers Women
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry greets Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka, Bangladesh on August 29, 2016. Photo credit: U.S. Department of State from United States [public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The World Economic Forum recently ranked Bangladesh first in gender equality among South Asia nations for the second consecutive year. The Forum’s “Gender Gap Index of 2017” highlights Bangladesh’s success in four key areas: education, economic participation, health, and political empowerment.
While no country has eliminated the gender gap completely, Bangladesh has had a steady climb in the rankings, rising 23 places over the preceding year to No. 49 in the world. Bangladesh consistently outperforms its neighbors India and Pakistan on measures of gender inequality.