The Bangladesh Olympic Association has established a five-member gender equity committee aimed at eliminating discrimination against female athletes, strengthening their rights and advancing women’s participation and empowerment across the country’s sporting landscape.
Barrister Sarwat Siraj, vice president of the BOA and president of the Bangladesh Women’s Sports Organisation, has been appointed as chairperson of the committee. Taphtun Nasreen, a deputy inspector general of Bangladesh Police, has been named member secretary, with Firoza Karim Nelly, general secretary of the Bangladesh Women’s Sports Organisation, BOA Athletes Commission chairperson Farhad Jesmin Liti and additional DIG Jannat Ara rounding out the five-member body.
According to a decision signed by BOA director general Brigadier General (retd) ABM Shefaul Kabir, all nominated members have been requested to submit their written recommendations to the BOA office by 25 June.
The committee will play a policy-making role in ensuring gender equality within Bangladesh sport, protecting the rights of female athletes and organisers, and making the country’s Olympic movement more inclusive overall.
The move follows a related initiative by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which on 2 June formed a separate committee with similar objectives. Barrister Sarwat Siraj serves as a member of that body as well, reflecting her central role in driving gender equity reform across Bangladesh sport. In addition to her sporting roles, she is a senior advocate at the Bangladesh Supreme Court.
Chairperson Sarwat Siraj expressed confidence that the committee would make a meaningful contribution to expanding opportunities for women in sport and building a more inclusive Olympic movement in Bangladesh.
