Thursday | 24 April 2025 | Reg No- 06
Bangla
   
Bangla | Thursday | 24 April 2025 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Australia wants free, fair elections in Bangladesh      ● Pakistan Foreign Minister due Sunday      ● Human chain urges swift reopening of Malaysian labor market       ● Bangladesh want to be top manufacturing country in world      ● KUET VC, Pro-VC resign      ● Bangladesh, WB sign $850m deals to boost trade, create jobs      ● KUET students cheer, end fast      

BRAC 'BRIDGE Returnship' Programme

Introducing first Cohort of the returning women professionals

Published : Saturday, 15 March, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 2769
Women\'s Own Desk
BRAC has officially launched the 'Bridge Returnship' programme, an initiative designed to support women re-entering the workforce after a career break. Out of nearly 1,100 applicants, 15 have been selected to work with various BRAC programmes for six months. Additionally, 100 shortlisted candidates will receive skills development training, leadership workshops, mentoring, and other professional development opportunities. The programme will also facilitate connections between these skilled professionals and NGOs, private organisations, and leading corporate entities, enabling them to secure employment aligned with their expertise.

The announcement was made at a press meeting held on Thursday, 13 March, at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali. BRAC's Executive Director, Asif Saleh, addressed the event, while Moutushi Kabir, Senior Director of People, Culture, and Communications at BRAC, moderated the session and responded to questions from the attending media representatives.

Speaking at the press meeting, Asif Saleh stated, "Women make exceptional leaders. As BRAC's founder, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, emphasized, true leadership is rooted in empathy, resilience, and the ability to uplift others-qualities that women inherently embody. Yet, this is not reflected in leadership roles. To close this gap, we must prioritise hiring, retaining, and advancing women at mid-to-senior levels. The BRIDGE Returnship programme is designed precisely for this purpose, helping talented women with professional experience re-enter the workforce and ascend to leadership positions. Businesses must move beyond societal stereotypes and recognise this not as Corporate Social Responsibility or a diversity initiative, but as a strategic imperative for success."

Moutushi Kabir stated that many perceive taking a career break as a weakness, but in reality, it is a sign of courage. She added that stepping away from an established career requires immense bravery and a willingness to take risks, and the programme aims to honour that courage.

During the event, it was announced that the primary objective of 'Bridge Returnship' programme is to assist women in re-entering the workforce after leaving their professions. Over six months, participants will receive hands-on training, professional development support, expert guidance, and confidence-building measures to ease their transition back into employment.

Findings from the application process were also shared, offering insights into the barriers women face when stepping away from and re-entering the workforce. Among the applicants, motherhood (25.8 percent) was cited as the leading reason for taking a career break, followed by social pressure (6.3 percent), family responsibilities (2.5 percent), and toxic workplace environments (0.7 percent). Meanwhile, their motivations for joining the 'BRIDGE Returnship programme reflect a strong drive for professional and personal advancement: career growth (34.5 percent), financial independence(32 percent), boosting confidence (22.7 percent), and supporting their families (10.8 percent).

At the event, selected participants of the BRIDGE Returnship programme -- Mouree Israt Khan, Elizabeth Marandy, Farah Mahboob, Tarana Mustary, and Iffat Sultana-joined a discussion moderated by Moutushi Kabir. Additionally, Amit Kanti Sarker, Associate Director of BRAC's Microfinance programme, and Samin Nower Kashmy, Head of Innovation at the Social Innovation Lab, shared their insights. Representatives from various organisations, including Unilever Bangladesh, BRAC Bank, City Bank, Grameenphone, GPH Ispat, Shwapno, the Canadian High Commission, and grow n excel, were also in attendance.

Shafiul Islam, Head of talent acquisition, employer branding and HR analytics, City Bank; Sharmin Sultan, Chief People Officer, GPH Ispat; Farhana Sharmin Sumi, Senior HR Business Partner, BRAC Bank; M. Zulfiquar Hossain, Chief Executive Officer, grow n excel; and Shaila Rahman, Director, Head of Service Delivery and Experience, People and Organisation, Grameenphone, shared their comments and concerns during the question-answer session.

The Bridge Returnship programme has been launched to advance women's professional development, enabling them to contribute effectively to Bangladesh's ongoing development challenges. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be recommended for employment within BRAC and its partner organisations.


LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Simple conditions for happiness in married life
Pahela Baishakh through a mother's eyes
Defend, empower and inspire
Sudan: Sexual violence used as weapon of terror against women and girls
The role of family and society to stop girls' oppression
Breaking the silence and fighting for justice
Shampa Akter's story of resilience
Introducing first Cohort of the returning women professionals
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: [email protected], news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close