Dhaka, March 8 -- For decades, women have been central to Bangladesh's economic and social transformation, from powering the garment industry to seeking jobs abroad and entering politics.

Yet recent data suggest that women's presence across several of these key sectors has been steadily shrinking.

Experts say a combination of workplace pressures, technological change, family responsibilities and social barriers is quietly pushing many women out of the workforce and limiting their participation in public life, raising fresh concerns about gender equality and inclusive growth.

The number of female workers in the readymade garment industry, the largest foreign currency earner, has been falling.

Sector insiders and different studies attri...