Bangladesh makes more progress in closing gender gap

Bangladesh has continued progress in tackling gender disparity in four key areas – economic participation, education, health and political empowerment.

The country has ranked 68th in the Global Gender Gap Index-2014 prepared by Geneva-based World Economic Forum covering 142 nations.

Last year, the country’s position was 75th among 136 countries.

In the index, published on Tuesday, Bangladesh advanced the most among the South Asian countries.

Its score has also increased this year to 0.697 against last year’s 0.685.

Area-wise position of the country is 127th in women’s participation in economic activities (with 0.477 scores), 111th in education (0.940), 122nd in health (0.966) and 10th in political empowerment (0.406).

Bangladesh’s position was 86th among 135 nations in 2012, 69th among 135 in 2011, 82nd among 134 in 2010, 93rd among 134 in 2009, 90th among 130 in 2008, and 100th among 128 in 2007.

Iceland has been at the top of the index, for the sixth consecutive year, and Yemen at the bottom.

Iceland is followed by Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Nicaragua, Ruanda, Ireland, the Philippines, and Belgium.

Among the South Asian countries, India has slipped to the 114th position from 101st last year, Sri Lanka to 79th from 55th, Bhutan to 120th from 93rd, the Maldives to 105th from 97th, and Pakistan to 141st from 135th position.

However, Nepal has ascended to the 112th position from last year’s 121st.

In the index, Bangladesh is ahead of all Middle Eastern countries, and China (87th position), Japan (104th), South Korea (117th), Russia (75th), Brazil (71st), Indonesia (97th) and Italy (69th).