Greater participation of women key to ensure dev

FE Report

Speakers at a conference underscored Saturday the need for creating competitiveness for and giving equal opportunity to the women especially in the accountancy profession, enhancing their participation in the occupation and accelerating the country's development.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) arranged the members' conference on "Women in the Accountancy Profession in Bangladesh" at the institute's auditorium in the city marking the International Women's Day.

HT Imam, Prime Minister's political adviser, was the chief guest while ICAB president Showkat Hossain FCA gave welcome speech at the function.

Dr Javed Siddiqui, faculty member, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK, presented a key-note paper while Ms Parveen Mahmud FCA, past president of the ICAB, moderated the programme as the session chairman.

Ms Suraiya Zannath Khan FCA, senior financial management specialist, South Asia Region, World Bank, Ms Shama Rukh Alam FCA, group finance director, Duncan Brothers (BD) Ltd, Ms Akhtar Sanjida Kasem FCA, partner, A Qasem & Co. Chartered Accountants and Ms Ratna Dutta FCA, proprietor, Dutta & Co. Chartered Accountants, Chittagong, were present as the panel speakers at the conference.

Mr Imam urged the ICAB to organise more and more such brain-storming programmes including seminar and workshops in association with the outside partners of this profession.

Emphasising on participation of both female and male for speedy development in the country, Mr Imam also called upon the institute to create competitiveness for and give opportunity to the female persons, facilitating them to join the accountancy profession and build better career here.

He suggested attracting the female students by showing them the lucrative prospects in the accountancy profession, where their participation is not satisfactory.

Appreciating the ICAB for arranging the conference on this women day, he said the programme will inspire the women to come to the profession, accelerating the sustainable development in the country.

He also highlighted different initiatives taken by the government to promote the women participation in various sectors in Bangladesh.

Mr Showkat Hossainsaid said economic development of a country is largely depended on trade and commerce, socio-economic culture and overall financial system where, the greater participation of women is important to propel the development wheel of the country.

"ICAB has made obligatory for CA Firm to take at least five female article students in each firm," the ICAB president said, adding that every year ICAB announces special Scholarship for Female.

Mr Javed Siddiqui in his presentation said though the number of female Chartered Accountant (CA) is increased, their participation in the profession remained significantly low.

In Bangladesh, only 22.9 percent female are employed in jobs including accountancy profession while the same is 68.3 percent in case of male. Such gender inequity in the national level is grossly attributed due to multiple socio-cultural factors, such as structural and social institutions, lack of policy initiatives and traditional mind-set towards the role of women in the society etc.

To enhance the participation of female chartered accountant in the policy making position, Mr Javed made some suggestions.

The ICAB could take catalytic role in awareness building, Mr Siddique said. "At present, women only account for 4.67 percent of the total number of chartered accountants in Bangladesh, suggesting the existence of a gender gap."

However, in recent years, the number of women joining the profession appears to have increased significantly.

Mrs Parveen Mahmud recalled that in 1996, gender-friendly environment by forming the "Committee for Professional Development for Women (CPDW)' under auspicious of CIDA project titled "Gender equality in CA Profession" was created.  At that time, ICAB had only 4 female qualified members out of 638-member body.