Speakers at a roundtable have called on the stock exchanges to play a vital role in ensuring gender equality in the listed companies.
Women's economic empowerment is a key driver of sustainable development and a key corporate sustainability issue, they said on Thursday.
The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) organised the roundtable on 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' at the CSE Conference Room in Chattagram on the occasion of the International Women's Day, says a press release.
This is the first time the CSE has organised this event as a partner stock exchange of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSE), headquartered in Geneva.
Globally, the theme of the event this year is: "Think equal, build smart, innovate for change".
CSE Managing Director M Shaifur Rahman Mazumdar presided over the roundtable, with Sabiha Musa, a former MP, as the chief guest.
Speaking at the event, Sabiha Musa laid emphasis on the equality of women in every sphere of life.
CSE Managing Director M Shaifur Rahman placed some proposals at the event.
The proposals included promoting gender equality in the workforce, introducing gender equality standards and supporting gender-equality-themed investment products.
He also proposed providing guidance, training, mentoring and education to market participants on gender equality and the role of gender diversity in business performance.
Mr Rahman also suggested encouraging the listed companies to publicly report on relevant gender metrics and appointing one woman commissioner in the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).
He stressed the need for the participation of women in the board of the listed companies as independent director and participation of women as director in the board of the stock exchanges.
He also emphasised the participation of women as director in brokerage houses, in the top management of exchanges, listed companies, and in brokerage houses.
He recommended formulating and promoting work environment principles for women and encouraging public and private investment for creating awareness about Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and capacity building.
Begum Mustari Shafi, a freedom fighter and woman leader, Prof Shaheda Islam, chairman, board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Chittagong; Dr Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury, Deputy Secretary, Dilruba Ahmed, Principal, Little Jewels School, Safia Ghazi Rahman, Founder and Principal, Sunshine Grammar School & College; attended the roundtable.
Senior Vice Presidents of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry Abida Sultana and Roksana Akter Chy (Ruhi), its Vice President Dr. Munal Mahbub, Founder of Doll's House Ivy Hasan, Member of Chittagong Women Chamber Rekha Alam and First Vice President of Dhaka Bank Muniza Bashir were also present.
The 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' event is a partnership of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women, IFC, Women in ETFs and the World Federation of Exchanges, aiming to raise awareness about the opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development.
