Dhaka, 5 March 2026:
BRAC has relaunched its BRIDGE Returnship programme to support women seeking to re-enter the workforce after career breaks, with family responsibilities and motherhood identified as the main reasons many leave their jobs.
The programme was formally introduced at a media discussion held on Thursday at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. Moutushi Kabir, Chief People and Culture Officer at BRAC, delivered the welcome address and answered questions from journalists, while Nazibul Islam Sharker, Assistant General Manager for Early Careers and Employer Brand, was also present.
According to BRAC, nearly 75 per cent of women who took career breaks left their jobs voluntarily or involuntarily due to family responsibilities and motherhood. Other reasons included pursuing higher education, hostile work environments and societal pressure.
More than 1,200 women applied for this year’s BRIDGE Returnship programme. After a multi-stage selection process, 24 participants were chosen to work across different BRAC programmes for six months. They will receive skills development training, leadership workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities with NGOs and private sector organisations to help them transition back into professional roles.
Kabir emphasised that career breaks do not diminish women’s abilities or leadership potential. Quoting BRAC founder Fazle Hasan Abed, she said, “I have never met a defeated woman in my life.”
BRAC launched the BRIDGE Returnship programme in 2024, selecting 15 participants from nearly 1,100 applicants in its inaugural cohort.
Source: BRAC
