More women are entering Bangladesh’s banking industry, with their presence particularly visible among younger employees. But as the career ladder rises, their representation steadily falls, leaving women markedly underrepresented at the top.
Women now account for 16.51 per cent of all bank employees but hold only 10.55 per cent of senior positions. Their representation on bank boards is also limited to 13.14 per cent. The disparity is even wider at non-bank financial institutions, where women occupy just 8.32 per cent of senior positions.
The figures come from Bangladesh Bank’s latest half-yearly report on gender equality, covering January to June 2026 and published by its Sustainable Finance Department. The report is based on data from 61 scheduled banks and 35 financial institutions.
More than 217,000 people are employed by the country’s banks, including nearly 36,000 women. The number of female employees rose by 910, or 2.60 per cent, from the previous six-month period. But much of that progress remains concentrated at the lower and middle levels of the industry.
The age profile tells a similar story. Women have a relatively stronger presence among bank employees under 30, but their share declines as age and professional experience increase. Among employees over 50, women account for only 11 per cent.
The pattern suggests that while a new generation of women is entering banking, many are either not remaining in the profession over the long term or are not progressing into leadership roles. There are also striking differences across types of banks. Foreign commercial banks have the highest proportion of female employees, at about 25 per cent. At state-owned, specialised and private commercial banks, the share remains between 16 and 17 per cent. In absolute numbers, however, private commercial banks employ the largest number of women.
A similar funnel is evident in non-bank financial institutions, where women become progressively less represented as they move up the organisational hierarchy. The data also point to gaps in the workplace support needed to retain women over longer careers.
The report says all banks provide six months of maternity leave and have policies on preventing or raising awareness of sexual harassment. It also says only 37 of the 61 banks have established their own childcare facilities or are affiliated with a childcare centre.
The situation is weaker among financial institutions. Only four of the 35 provide childcare facilities, two fewer than in the previous six-month period. Not all institutions have put in place adequate measures for safe transportation for female employees or training on gender equality either.
