Girl child: Because of the patriarchy, girls in general are given less attention and care from right after birth in Bangladesh. As a result, the rate of severe malnutrition among girl children is 50 per cent higher and the mortality rate of girls below the age of five is also relatively high. In rural societies, girls become confined within four walls once they reach puberty. Consequently, even though there is equality in the enrolment of boys and girls at the primary level, the rate of dropout for girls at the secondary level is much higher. Large numbers of girl children in cities work as household maids at very low wage and sometimes for no wages at all. Nearly 83 per cent of all maids are girls.

Marriage: Most girls in rural Bangladesh are married off at puberty. Available statistics show that while 51 per cent of girls are married below the age of 18, only 5 per cent of boys of that age get married. Many girls get pregnant right after marriage and become mothers before they themselves become physically and mentally ready. Because of child birth at immature age, many women suffer from genital damage. At least 70,000 Bangladeshi women suffer from obstetric fistula.

Dowry is a very serious problem for women of Bangladesh and their families. This problem has been becoming widespread overtime in rural areas. Dowry creates severe financial hardship for families. It turns women into mere "commodities" and many of them suffer violence due to this practice. Often they are abandoned for not paying dowry and are forced to embrace lives of poverty. Nearly 95 per cent of female headed households in Bangladesh lie below the poverty line.

Education: Bangladesh has achieved tremendous successes in girls' education. While the rate of literacy was only 12 per cent among women above the age of 15 in 1970, the rate increased to 41 per cent in 2002, although the comparable literacy rate for men is 50 per cent. Educational opportunities for young girls increased greatly over the years. Their literacy rate increased from 19 per cent in 1970 to 41 per cent in 2004. Although this is a big achievement, still the disparity exists between boys and girls. For example, the rate of literacy for boys was 58 per cent in 2004.

Equality now exits between boys and girls in their participation in primary education, the rate being 54 per cent in both cases. This is undoubtedly a significant achievement. However, drop-out rate for girls in secondary schools is 10 per cent higher. Opportunities for higher education, especially professional education for girls are also very limited.

Subjugation and violence: Women of Bangladesh are subjected to serious violence within and outside their homes. According to World Population Fund, 47 per cent of women of Bangladesh are subjected to violence by men within the family setting, which is among the highest in the world. Based on a survey of 12 national dailies and 196 regional newspapers, MMC recently reported that during the first eight months of 2005, on average five women were raped or sexually harassed everyday. Of these, 127 were killed and 541 were injured. Not only adult women, girl children are also often subjected to physical, mental and sexual harassments. It must be noted that these statistics do not tell the whole story as many cases of violence do not get reported because of fear of publicity and threats from perpetrators. Nevertheless, it is clear that overall women have been becoming less secure over time in our society.

Acid throwing is the cruelest and most barbaric type of violence. This type of violence is perpetrated because of rejection of marriage proposals or undue sexual advances. Women are primarily the victims of acid violence and many of them (41%) are below the age of 18.

Trafficking: The rate of trafficking of Bangladeshi children and women has seriously increased in recent years. According to available statistics, every month between 200-400 young women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh to Pakistan and most of them end up in brothels. Recent reports show that over 200,000 Bangladeshi women are engaged in prostitution in Pakistan. Large number of Bangladeshi women are also living in inhuman conditions in brothels of India.

Health: Women are seriously deprived in receiving healthcare. Although the life expectancy is almost equal for women and men, women are largely deprived of modern health services. In most cases they have to depend on village quacks. Nearly one-third of women do not get the services of skilled birth attendants during child birth. As a result, maternal mortality is still high in Bangladesh -- about four per thousand.

Women of Bangladesh on average get pregnant four times over their life-time, which has a severe impact on their health. The reason for high rates of pregnancy is their own desires as well as family pressures on them to bear boys.

AIDS is not yet a serious problem in Bangladesh, although many seriously doubt the published statistics on its incidence. The subjugated status of women in Bangladeshi society enhances this threat. Experiences of Africa show that women's inability to say "no" to men's demands for unprotected sex and with many partners is the single most important cause for the rapid and devastating spread of aids in African continent. Thus, if we are to prevent the potential onslaught of AIDS in Bangladesh we must ensure the equality of women and men, and the opportunity for them to participate in family decisions.

Nutrition: Malnutrition is a serious problem in Bangladesh. However, the rates of malnutrition and stunting are higher among women than men. About half of Bangladeshi girls in puberty suffer from stunting and nearly a third of the village girls of that age group suffer from wasting. Approximately 43 per cent of them are anemic. The reason for high rates of malnutrition among women and girls of Bangladesh is the patriarchic mindset, requiring women, especially village women to eat last and the least. Furthermore, the traditional notion in Bangladesh is that boys need more nutritious food than girls.

Participation and empowerment: Even though opportunities for participation in family decisions are limited, women are increasingly becoming more active in political arena. Nearly 13,000 women are now directly elected in Union Parishads, Paurashavas and City Corporations in every term. Although women elected to reserve seats do not enjoy the same status, nevertheless the election of such a large number of women to local bodies is a significant event.

Even though our two major political parties are headed by women, the opportunities for political empowerment of women are still limited in Bangladesh. All decision makers surrounding the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, despite their being women, are men. In addition, the proportion of women among directly elected MPs is only 2 per cent. The number of reserve seats in Parliament has recently been increased to 45 and they are now being filled as a result of the removal of legal hurdles. Nevertheless, in filling these seats through party-based nominations, the ruling coalition has defied its own election commitment and also the demands of women groups as well as conscientious citizens to hold direct elections to women's seats.

Women have also advanced a great deal in economic arena. Employment opportunities have increasingly being created for them. Nearly all employees of the readymade garments industry are women. Women participation in the private sector has thus considerably increased. Even though the number of women employees has been increasing over the years, there exists a serious disparity in wages between women and men. A recent survey shows that while the average monthly wages paid to men employed in industry is Tk. 2,118, the average wage paid to women in the same sector is less than half that amount. In addition, the rate of participation of women in government and semi-government jobs is about eighth of men.

It is clear from the above that in spite of progress in certain areas, women of Bangladesh are still seriously neglected and deprived. Their deprivations, especially in the area of nutrition create a severe and vicious circle of malnutrition. Women's deprivations from the childhood, lack of opportunities for them at puberty, early marriage and pregnancies are the causes behind the vicious circle. Although it perpetuates through the conditions of malnutrition and deprivations of women, its adverse consequences are suffered by all -- men and women alike, generation after generation.

Thus, ensuring nutrition, education and good health for women and investing in them, are in the best interest of the entire society -- men and women alike. That is the idea behind the celebration of the National Girl Child Day on September 30th every year.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar is Global Vice President and Country Director, The Hunger Project-Bangladesh.