Walk through the streets of Dhaka — from the bustling alleys of Mirpur to the startup hubs of Banani — and you’ll see a quiet revolution in motion. Behind every rickshaw stand, café, boutique, and office desk, there’s a story of a woman who is challenging norms, earning her own income, and shaping a new definition of empowerment in Bangladesh.

This isn’t just a tale of elites or policymakers — it’s about grassroots women who are upgrading their lives and communities through work, education, and resilience.

From Home-Based Work to Urban Entrepreneurs

Over the last decade, Bangladesh’s cities have witnessed a surge in women entering the workforce. What began as small-scale home-based work — tailoring, handicrafts, and catering — has now evolved into organized ventures.

In Dhaka, thousands of women-led microenterprises are thriving in fashion, food delivery, and online retail. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Daraz, and Pickaboo have turned living rooms into digital shops.

According to the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS, 2024), more than 1.2 million women in urban Bangladesh now operate small businesses or freelance online. Many are self-taught, using mobile phones and social media to reach customers.

One shining example is Rokeya, a 27-year-old single mother from Mohammadpur, who started sewing clothes during the pandemic. Today, she runs a small boutique employing four other women. “I never thought I could run a business,” she says, “but now my income feeds my child and supports other families too.”

Education and Skill Training: The Urban Advantage

Access to education and vocational training has transformed opportunities for women in Dhaka. Programs by NGOs like BRAC, Aparajita, and Women in Digital have trained thousands of young women in IT, business management, and tailoring.

Dhaka’s private universities and training centers are also seeing more female enrollment. The University Grants Commission (UGC, 2023) reports that female enrollment in tertiary education has reached 47%, nearly equal to men.

With education, urban women are breaking barriers that once confined them to domestic roles. They’re not only joining offices but also leading teams, working in media, tech, finance, and creative industries.

The Garment Industry: A Catalyst for Urban Change

The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector remains one of the biggest engines of women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. With over 4 million workers, nearly 80% of whom are women, the industry has not only lifted families out of poverty but also redefined gender roles.

Women from rural districts migrate to Dhaka and Gazipur in search of factory jobs — often their first step into financial independence. Though conditions remain harsh and wages modest, the psychological shift is immense.

As ILO (2023) noted, women who work in the garment industry are five times more likely to send their daughters to school compared to those who don’t. Empowerment, therefore, is being passed from one generation to the next.

Social Mobility and Challenges

Urban life offers opportunities — but also new challenges. Many working women in Dhaka face long hours, unsafe commutes, and social stigma. Harassment in public transport and unequal pay remain common issues.

Despite these, women’s voices are growing stronger. Grassroots organizations like Naripokkho and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) provide legal aid and awareness programs. Social media activism is also amplifying calls for safety and equality, especially among young urban women.

Moreover, financial inclusion is improving. Mobile banking services like bKash and Nagad allow women to save, transfer, and manage money independently — a small but revolutionary change in how women control their finances.

Technology and Digital Empowerment

Technology has become the new gateway for empowerment. In Dhaka’s urban neighborhoods, young women are building online careers in freelancing, graphic design, digital marketing, and content creation.

The ICT Division of Bangladesh reports that women now make up 28% of registered freelancers in the country, many from urban areas. Initiatives like SheMeansBusiness (Meta) and HerWILL are training women to build digital startups.

Through social media, women are not only earning — they are also voicing opinions, sharing experiences, and shaping the urban culture of independence.

Changing Family Dynamics

Perhaps the most powerful transformation is happening within families. As more women earn and contribute, household dynamics are evolving. Young couples in Dhaka increasingly share financial responsibilities, and daughters are seen as capable of supporting parents — not just sons.

Sociologists describe this shift as the “Dhaka Effect” — where urban exposure and financial necessity gradually challenge traditional gender hierarchies. Over time, this change is expected to ripple across rural Bangladesh as well.

Stakeholders and Future Pathways

The empowerment of grassroots women in Dhaka is not the work of individuals alone — it’s a collective movement supported by various actors:

Firstly, NGOs like BRAC, CARE Bangladesh, and ASA are training and funding women entrepreneurs. Secondly, Government initiatives like Joyeeeta Foundation and Digital Bangladesh Vision 2041 aim to expand women’s participation in the economy. Thirdly, Private companies are adopting gender-inclusive policies in corporate and service sectors. However, for empowerment to be sustainable, issues like workplace safety, affordable childcare, and access to loans must be addressed more systematically.

Conclusion: The New Face of Urban Bangladesh

The story of women in urban Bangladesh is not one of dependency — but of determination. They are no longer just surviving in the cities; they are building them. From the slums of Mirpur to the startups in Dhanmondi, women are redefining what empowerment means at the grassroots level.

Their journey is far from over, but their direction is clear: toward autonomy, dignity, and shared prosperity. The rise of these women is not just transforming Dhaka — it’s transforming Bangladesh itself.

References

• Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Urban Women Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh 2024
  
• Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Labor Force Survey 2024
  
• BRAC, Empowering Urban Women Through Microenterprise, 2023
  
• ILO, Gender and Work in Bangladesh’s RMG Sector, 2023
  
• UGC Bangladesh, Higher Education Gender Statistics Report, 2023
  
• UN Women Bangladesh, Women and Urban Development, 2024
  
• ICT Division, Digital Skills and Women’s Inclusion Report, 2024