DRIVING GRASSROOTS GENDER EQUALITY: EMPOWERING WOMEN IN BANGLADESHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bangladesh is one of the most overpopulated countries in the world where women are involved in domestic work. Political and economic empowerment is considered a male-dominated public activity. This paper aims to explore the dimensional issues and challenges faced by women representatives in Union Parishads in the decision-making process which is crucial for ensuring womens economic empowerment at the grassroots level. This study attempts to critically assess the extent of womens economic empowerment in local government institutions in Bangladesh. This paper also investigates the low rate of women holding elected positions at the grassroots level and the reasons behind their dismal performance in the objective and decision-making process and economic empowerment. From this point of view, this study has identified some factors that are negatively affecting the active participation of women representatives in the Union Parishad such as lack of education and training facilities, lack of social and cultural norms and values, lack of awareness, social constraints, family constraints, lack. Family support, lack of economic awareness, lack of peer support, patriarchal mindset, lack of freedom of movement, sexual harassment, domestic violence, low status, unequal distribution of work and religious misinterpretation. Finally, this paper provides a summary of proposed improvements to the current system as well as alternative system options for enhancing womens economic empowerment in local governments in Bangladesh to achieve gender equality at the grassroots level.