Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering today lauded Bangladesh for making striking economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic crediting the success to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

“Despite numerous challenges, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina successfully carried forward the vision and legacy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. People of Bangladesh will remember you forever,” said Dr Tshering.

Expressing his desire to deepen friendship and cooperation with Bangladesh, he said “Bangladesh is always very close to my heart”

Bangladesh ranks 7th in the world in the political empowerment of women.

Bangladesh has emerged as a shining global model of women leadership when women take leading positions at every sphere of its political and social arena with them performing duties as prime minister, parliament speaker, and cabinet ministers simultaneously.

Romida Begum sat on a chair in her tent home. Nearby, her older male assistant eyed her with a sideways glance. Romida – 27, a woman, and a refugee – couldn’t help but smirk: for once in her life, she was in charge.

There is broad consensus that women’s increased participation in politics is necessary for both the democratic development of the country, as well as women’s empowerment in Bangladesh.

In the recently-held 11th general election, 22 women were directly elected among in 299 constituencies. Despite this, the percentage of women elected to parliament is less than 8%—not even reaching double digits.

Two powerful women – Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia – have dominated Bangladeshi politics for decades, but the South Asian country's women are still underrepresented in parliament and are politically marginalized.

Nazla Ibtesham, an 18-year-old student, was hugely disappointed when election officials turned down her voter ID due to some "technical issues." She and her friends wanted to make their voice heard in the upcoming parliamentary elections.