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From Challenges to Change: How Municipalities in Bangladesh Are Enhancing Women’s Access to Services

Bangladesh
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Zannatul Ferdous, PRABRIDDHI08.05.2025
In Bhairab, a key transit and trade hub in central Bangladesh, public services are part of daily life. Every day, hundreds of residents visit the municipality office to register a birth, collect certificates, or access health services. But for women like Umme Hanima, these routine tasks often came with unexpected challenges.
Umme Hanima standing in front of the Women’s Corner in Bhairab Municipality

Hanima, a young mother from Dakshin Para, faced a struggle that many women across Bangladesh know all too well. Living in a joint family of eight with her husband working abroad, she became the primary caregiver. When Hanima needed to register the birth of her newborn, the journey to the municipal office proved more daunting than expected.

"I remember going to register the birth of my baby—just six months old at the time. I waited under the sun for hours, holding my child in my arms. There was no place to sit, nowhere to breastfeed, and the heat was unbearable. We both fell ill afterward. I couldn’t help but wonder, why is something so simple made so difficult for people like us?"
Umme Hanima

And Hanima’s experience wasn’t unique. Each day, Bhairab Municipality serves over 500 people—many of them women, including elderly citizens, pregnant women, and mothers with young children. But until recently, the public facilities hadn’t considered their specific needs.

"Women who came to the municipality told us time and again that they felt uncomfortable—and sometimes even discouraged—from accessing the services they were entitled to. They spoke about long waits with no seating, the lack of basic facilities, and how difficult it was when they had children with them, especially with no space to breastfeed. That’s when we realised we needed to take action."
Md. Farook, Municipal Executive Officer, Bhairab municipality.

It was the municipality’s Women Development Committee that first proposed a solution: a dedicated space where women could safely and comfortably access services. Unsure how to take the idea forward, the municipal leadership turned to the PRABRIDDHI project for support.

A regular working day at the women's corner at Bhairab Municipality, Kishoreganj, Dhaka

PRABRIDDHI, a Local Economic Development (LED) initiative jointly funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland and implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) of Bangladesh and Swisscontact, stepped in to co-design a solution. With technical expertise and financial support, two Women’s Corners were established—one at the main municipality office and another at the adjacent health facility.

These spaces are now equipped with comfortable seating, electricity, sanitation facilities, and private breastfeeding corners. But, this was more than just physical improvements. The initiative aimed to make municipal services more inclusive and responsive to women’s realities. The Women Development Committee played an active role in shaping and monitoring the initiative, ensuring it was grounded in lived experiences.

Today, the Women’s Corner has become a powerful symbol of inclusion and change. Hanima now visits the space at the municipal health facility regularly for her baby’s vaccinations.

"It feels like the municipality has finally thought about us. The Women’s Corner has comfortable seating, clean toilets, and a place to rest. I can come here and access any service I need—without worrying about my baby crying or being out in the heat. It’s a small change, but for us, it means everything."
Umme Hanima

The Women’s Corner initiative in Bhairab has already completed all three phases of implementation. It began with improving infrastructure and access, then strengthened community engagement and women’s leadership, and now serves as a model for inclusive service delivery. Inspired by Bhairab’s example, three more municipalities—Kushtia, Bogura, and Dinajpur—have replicated the concept, tailoring it to meet their own local needs.

"The Women’s Corner reflects our commitment to improving the quality of life for all citizens. Our partnership with PRABRIDDHI is helping us build a more inclusive and responsive municipality."
Md. Farook, Municipal Executive Officer, Bhairab municipality

By recognising and addressing gender-based service gaps, Bhairab has set a powerful example—proving that small, thoughtful changes can lead to meaningful progress. As more municipalities follow its lead, these quiet shifts are paving the way for more inclusive, accessible public services across Bangladesh.

2020 - 2025
Bangladesh
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
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