To Achieve Sustainability, Ensure Gender Equality: ICMAB President Abdur Rahman Khan FCMA told at ICAB webinar

To Achieve Sustainability, Ensure Gender Equality: ICMAB President Abdur Rahman Khan FCMA told at ICAB webinar

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) organised a webinar, titled “Gender issues in the public accountancy profession: A global perspective”, on May 18, 2023.

Dr. Nahid Rashid, Secretary to the Government, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, Former Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD) and Former Commercial Counsellor to Bangladesh Mission in India graced the occasion as the chief guest. Mr. Md. Abdur Rahman Khan FCMA, President, ICMAB & Additional Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance attended the webinar as the special guest.

ICAB President Mr. Md. Moniruzzaman FCA delivered address of welcome. The keynote paper has been presented by Dr. Javed Siddiqui, Professor of Accounting, Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, UK. Barrister Nihad Kabir, Former President, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated as Panel Discussant while Ms. Parveen Mahmud FCA, past president-ICAB and Chairperson, General Body, RDRS Bangladesh conducted the session as session chairman. ICAB CEO Shubhashish Bose gave introductory speech while its Vice President MBM Lutful Hadee FCA delivered the closing remarks.

Bangladesh is striving to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2023 and this includes ensuring gender equality in every aspect of life. So, all professions, businesses and industries need to embrace, utilise and engage women for their talents and capabilities, the speakers said at the webinar.

Describing the barriers of women for their career progression within the accountancy profession, keynote presenter said, Audit firms should be encouraged to provide more conducive environment for female students. This may include incorporating more women in senior management level positions, allowing more flexible work hours, the provision for day care centers etc.

ICMAB President Md. Abdur Rahman Khan FCMA said our 50% population is women, so if we fail to bring this population into our economy, into the profession the sustainability is not possible. The basic problem is human created- social and cultural problem which is not only in Bangladesh but across the globe, he said. Some problems we can see and can do something to come out of that but some we cannot see which creates glass ceiling, the invisible barrier. We must come out of that for promoting gender equity. He expressed his optimism that most of the parents are now very serious regarding the education and career of their daughters and in many cases women are performing much better than their male counterparts. The women work harder and are engaged in multiple tasks at home and workplace. If we take their selfless contribution at home and for our children, into consideration, women productivity is much higher than men. Therefore, we should change our mentality and respect women as equal human being, ensure gender equality and thereby achieve sustainable development. At the end, he thanked ICAB authority for inviting him on such an important and burning topic.