Bangladesh celebrates women’s rise in BPO
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — The Bangladesh Association of Contact Centers and Outsourcing (BACCO) marked International Women’s Day 2024 by recognizing the significant contributions of women in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry.
The event spotlighted the increasing role of women, who now constitute around 40% of the country’s 70,000 BPO workforce, with aspirations to reach a 50% share by 2025.
BACCO Senior Vice President Md. Abul Khair emphasized the critical role of women in Bangladesh’s socio-economic development, stating, “Ensuring the equal participation of every man and woman is not only necessary but essential today. A beautiful future we all have to work shoulder to shoulder.”
The celebration featured panel discussions, a cake-cutting ceremony, and the honoring of 10 long-serving women in ICT.
Notable speakers included Member of Parliament Aroma Dutta, who highlighted Bangladesh’s status as a role model for women’s progress, and Zara Jabeen Mahbub, CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Data and Analytics Private Limited, who advocated for a positive feminist mentality.
British High Commission First Secretary (Political) Doyne Adele underscored the importance of education and skill development for women, while USAID’s Sonjae Reynolds Cooper praised BACCO’s efforts in maintaining international interest in the sector.
The event also addressed challenges such as data collection and analysis, with Maliha Mannan of Organic Care pointing out the need for disaggregated health data. President of Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society Tanjiba Rahman also called for more focus on skill development beyond education.
Certificates of Excellence were awarded to women who made significant contributions to the BPO sector, underscoring the event’s theme of celebrating and empowering women in ICT.
BACCO General Secretary Touhid Hossain concluded the event with a commitment to women’s advancement in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.
“We will work together to build the Smart Bangladesh of Hon’ble Prime Minister by establishing women’s rights and ensuring women’s equal participation,” she stated.
