Women’s leadership in administration on the rise

The presence of women in key administrative positions is increasing, with a growing number of female officers taking on leadership roles in field administration.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration, at least 18 women officers are currently serving as deputy commissioners (DCs), 158 as upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), 63 as additional deputy commissioners (ADCs), and 141 as assistant commissioners (AC land).

Women are also making strides in central administration, with at least 14 women serving as secretaries, including one senior secretary. Additionally, 69 women hold the rank of additional secretary, 173 are joint secretaries, 390 are deputy secretaries, 668 are senior assistant secretaries, and 306 women serve as assistant secretaries.

Women are leading field administration across Bangladesh, although some regions still lack female representation in key positions. Among the 18 female DCs, the highest number, six DCs, is in Dhaka, followed by four in Rajshahi, and two each in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Khulna. However, there are currently no female DCs in Barishal and Sylhet divisions.

In terms of female UNOs, Chattogram has the highest number, with 33, followed by Dhaka (32), Khulna (28), Rajshahi (25), Sylhet (13), Mymensingh (11), and Barishal and Rangpur (8 each).

Despite this progress, female officers continue to face challenges in leadership roles. Netrokona DC Banani Biswas said, "Serving as a DC is a challenge for both male and female officers, but as a woman, it's even more challenging. To tackle this, we need to improve the skills of women and also work towards changing the societal mindset."

Faizul Wasima Nahat, UNO of Kalmakanda upazila, Netrokona, shared her struggles, "As a female officer, I face double the challenges. People are still not accustomed to seeing women in the UNO's chair. Acceptance is different for male officers. It's tougher for women in this role."

However, Farida Yesmin, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Public Works, offered a different perspective, saying that her experience as a former UNO was mostly positive. "While working in the field, I received respect from most people, which made the pressure of the job more enjoyable. However, carrying out development work was difficult due to local vested interest groups. If one works with integrity and courage, no one belittles a female officer. On the contrary, the general public encourages her."

Women are also making their mark in the highest administrative roles. Zaheda Parveen, secretary (coordination and reforms) of the Cabinet Division, emphasised the role of family support in achieving success. "For a woman to be successful, the most important thing is family support. My parents raised me not as a girl, but as a child, which helped in my education and career development. Support from my husband was also crucial after marriage."