Female Bankers Decline by 770 in Six Months

The number of female employees in Bangladesh’s banking and non-bank financial institutions has declined notably over the past six months, highlighting persistent gender disparities in the financial sector. According to the latest report published by Bangladesh Bank on workforce gender composition, the banking sector lost 721 female staff, while non-bank financial institutions recorded a reduction of 49, bringing the total decrease to 770 female employees.

Workforce Trends

Data from Bangladesh Bank indicates that, as of December, the banking sector employed 35,061 women, down from 35,782 in June. Non-bank financial institutions had 1,019 female employees in December, compared with 1,068 six months earlier. Overall, the total workforce in banks and financial institutions was 218,487, of which 182,407 were men and 36,080 were women. Women, therefore, accounted for only 16.5 per cent of the total workforce, while men represented 83.5 per cent.

Causes of Decline

Banking industry experts cite several reasons for this reduction. Following political changes in 2024, a number of financially troubled banks and non-bank institutions underwent mergers or closures with government approval. Many women employees lost their positions or chose to resign during these transitions. Additionally, family responsibilities and social expectations continue to drive women out of the workforce.

Anita Gazi Rahman, Director at BRAC Bank and Senior Lawyer of the Supreme Court, told First Light: “The decline of women in the workforce is not limited to banking; it is a nationwide phenomenon. While women often outperform men academically, workplace participation is hindered by societal pressures, family duties, and institutional barriers. Women frequently reach a point where they must leave their careers to care for family obligations. To reverse this trend, society, institutions, and families must become more women-friendly, and policies should support sustained female participation.”

Sector-wise Distribution

Among female bankers, most are employed in private commercial banks (22,983), followed by state-owned commercial banks (9,147). Specialized commercial banks employ 1,947 women, while foreign commercial banks have 984. Percentage-wise, foreign banks have the highest female representation at over 25 per cent, whereas private commercial banks, despite having the largest number of women, have only 16 per cent female staff.

Within banks, female employees are predominantly in entry-level roles (over 17 per cent), with 16.19 per cent in mid-level positions and only 10.35 per cent in senior or policymaking roles.

The data illustrates that while there has been incremental growth in female participation over the past five years, structural and societal barriers continue to limit women’s career progression in Bangladesh’s financial sector.