Bangladesh's Unseen Farmers: Women's Rights in Agriculture

With women making up nearly 60% of Bangladesh's agricultural labor force, their exclusion from official recognition and development discussions presents significant challenges. It's time to address women's rights in agriculture.

, and Administrator

2025 November 2 . 7:13 AM

1 min read

In this image there are a few women sitting on their knees and placed their hand on the back of... — In this image there are a few women sitting on their knees and placed their hand on the back of their head. In the background there is a building with red bricks and at the bottom of the image there is a wall.

Bangladesh's Unseen Farmers: Women's Rights in Agriculture

In Bangladesh, women make up a significant portion of the agricultural labour force, yet they are not officially recognised as 'universal farmers' in national policies. This lack of recognition presents numerous challenges for women, including limited access to loans and government services. Despite their crucial role in managing natural resources, women's civil rights often go unaddressed in development discussions.

Speaking at a recent event in Dhaka, an unidentified speaker highlighted these disparities. They emphasised the need for political parties to include women's land rights, recognition as universal farmers, and equal pay in their manifestos. Currently, women often receive less inheritance property than they are legally entitled to. This event, titled 'Bangladeshi women's rights in land, agriculture, natural resources and property: Tasks for the government and civil society', was held at the CIRDAP Auditorium.

Both genders contribute to managing natural resources, but women's perspectives are frequently overlooked in development conversations. This exclusion can hinder progress towards gender equality in the agricultural sector.

With 58% of Bangladesh's agricultural labour force being women, their universal recognition and rights are crucial. Steps must be taken to ensure women's access to loans, services, and equal property inheritance. Including women's rights in political manifestos and addressing their issues in development discourse can pave the way for a more equitable future in Bangladesh's agricultural sector.