Every year on International Women’s Day, the world pauses to celebrate women’s achievements. It has been sponsored by the United Nations (UN) since 1975. Streets are adorned with banners, social media fills with tributes, and institutions highlight women’s contributions across societies. Purple, green, and white—the colours historically associated with this day—symbolise dignity and justice, hope, and purity. Yet while the celebration is global, the reality it commemorates remains far from universal. Equality is still unfinished.
Women today occupy positions that were unimaginable a generation ago. Globally, they have become presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, scientists, and thought leaders, shaping the trajectory of nations. In Bangladesh, women have made historic gains in education and the workforce, particularly in sectors like garments and microfinance.
