Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) and Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka (SICD) jointly organized a seminar titled “Workplace Harassment of Women” at the DMK Lecture Gallery of IUB on September 13, 2025.

The seminar addressed legal, institutional, and social responses to workplace harassment through expert presentations, survivor testimonies, and a panel discussion.

The seminar, facilitated by the Career Guidance Placement and Alumni Relations (CGP&AR) office of IUB, commenced with a welcome speech by Ms. Yasmin Rahman, President of SICD and Chairman of Paragon Group. 

In his opening remarks, Prof. Daniel W. Lund, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IUB, said, “We are honored to host this event with the Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka. We wish you all the best, and we hope to learn as much as we can to make positive changes happen in our workplaces.”

IUB faculty, management, staff and students attended the seminar and took part in the discussion. Guests included representatives from Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA); Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU); Kamrun Nahar, Human Rights Activist from Naripokkho; Foundation for Law & Development (FLAD); and Dr. Arifa Rahman from the Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka.

Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid, said, “Harassment is not just an individual instance, it is a structural issue rooted in power imbalance and gender norms. Women's participation in workplaces cannot be meaningful without safety and dignity. The guidelines from the Supreme Court remain one of the strongest tools but implementation is failing. Employer's responsibility is a legal and moral responsibility, not optional.” She added that women constitute 51 percent of the population and called for stronger laws, effective monitoring, and survivor-focused complaint mechanisms.

Taqbir Huda, Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Fellow of Tech Global Institute, said, “We need to take a different approach; we should be introspective, we should not look at sexual harassment law in isolation. But what it tells about the story of Bangladesh, tells about the criminal justice system of Bangladesh and donor politics in Bangladesh and the power dynamics in Bangladesh. Because introspection can lead to change and possible sustainable development.”

Representatives from BOMSA and RMMRU brought survivors to share their experiences. BOMSA presented the testimony of Hafeza, while RMMRU introduced Kulsum Begum, who described her struggles abroad. Their accounts highlighted challenges faced by women migrant workers and the impact of workplace abuse.

Fawzia Kabir Firoze, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, said, “Any speech or action with even a touch of a sex element is considered sexual harassment. Previously, the law did not define actions against these offenses which is why we have worked so diligently over the years to define and determine what is sexual harassment and what falls under its purview.”

She also said, “Since it [harassment] can be harder to define in academic or workplace environments, we have decided to break these down and bring them to the people. Because defining something is one thing, but ensuring sound implementation of the law is a whole other challenge.” She emphasized that judges need clear definitions to establish who is the victim, who is the perpetrator, and what offense was committed.

Dr. Shamim Matin Chowdhury, Past President of SICD said, “There are various kinds of harassment – verbal harassment being a lowkey harassment that is really hard for people to detect. Sexual harassment encompasses any type of comment, physical gesture or advance on either or both men and women. Even a meaningful look is also considered sexual harassment.” She explained that harassment can cause trauma, sometimes manifesting as physical health issues, and underlined the importance of resilience and moral values in addressing it.

The program was hosted by Yasmin Rahman, who thanked participants and stressed the need for awareness at a wider scale to combat harassment. It concluded with a question-and-answer session and a lunch for invited guests.

The Soroptimist movement in Bangladesh began in 1981. The Soroptimist International Club of Dhaka was officially chartered on January 5, 1983, with Anjumanara Begum as founding president. Since then, Soroptimist clubs have worked on women's education, health and nutrition, legal awareness, and community development.

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