Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury speaks at TEDxGulshan

The first female Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, addressed her experience as a woman in the public sector in her first and highly anticipated TEDx Talk at TEDxGulshan 2023.

As a former State Minister for Women & Children Affairs and an accomplished advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Dr. Chaudhury recognises the struggles many women face in general, especially after marriage, when they cannot build careers because of family responsibilities, said a press release today.

In her TEDx Talk, she recollects receiving family support for her decisions, particularly from her father-in-law who was proud of her for pursuing a Phd, a height that none of his sons attained. No matter what difficulties surmised, she was determined to pursue her career and climb up the ladder.

“Long hours in the chamber and in the court. Coming back late at night, driving back home alone, finding my children and family asleep was a common phenomenon throughout. But still, I hung in there and I pursued my profession as a lawyer.”

Dr. Chaudhury shares her journey of becoming a Member of the Parliament from a junior lawyer at the age of 40, and subsequently maintaining the responsibility of being the State Minister for Women & Children Affairs. This provided her the opportunity to work for the women in Bangladesh at the grassroot level and to promulgated crucial policies such as the National Women Development Policy.

She then transports to the moment of becoming the Speaker of the Parliament as a female, particularly the uncertainty of the public regarding her role.

“How is it possible? A young woman like her, the Speaker of The Parliament?,” she recalls her experience. “I was worried that it was a responsibility of all the women in Bangladesh. What if I made a mistake? What if I could not perform? What if I failed in my duties? Would that ruin the opportunity for all the other women in future? Would there be any other woman in this position then?”

Gradually, she crossed the challenges, becoming confident in her responsibilities and received the opportunity to proudly represent Bangladesh at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association where she learned about the functionalities of the parliamentary proceedings elsewhere in the world. She draws inspiration from one of the legendary leaders of South Asia, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, who ceaselessly encourages gender equality and equivalent opportunities for all.

However, the balancing of responsibilities & conventional notions of being a woman remained even during the CPA elections, when she amusingly recollects a phone call from her husband, asking about the location of the saffron in the house. These small moments prove that, no matter how one flourishes in their career, the responsibilities as a family member prevails.

So, how do we address the challenges that women face in building their careers, especially in public sectors?

Dr. Chaudhury emphasises on the progressive and liberal minds of parents and family after marriage. She highlights the importance of maintaining a balance between work and family life, being committed towards one’s duties even under challenging circumstances.

She also encouraged everyone, particularly those working in the public sectors, to be aware of the challenges and be open to criticisms while creating more opportunities for the females in Bangladesh in order to serve the country.

Dr. Chaudhury is a true paradigm of female leadership, representing the females not only in Bangladesh but also in the global South. She leads exceptionally as a woman, a Bangladeshi, a mother, a wife, a politician, the Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh and every other role she embarks on–setting an unparalleled example for the women around the world.