BRAC Bank TARA reframes the conversation on parenting: A shared journey of partnership

On the occasion of International Mother's Day, BRAC Bank's women-centred initiative TARA held an event that did not just celebrate motherhood or struggles of being a mother but gently pulled apart the structure surrounding it. The event titled "Parenting: A Shared Journey of Partnership" created space for a much-needed dialogue that was not about glorifying sacrifice but rather about asking why parenting still leans heavily, and often unfairly, on mothers and how partners can show up to share it.

Parenting does not come with a rulebook, but it shapes everything from how a child sees the world, how a family survives or breaks, or how a society grows. Yet, in most conversations about it, one parent, usually the mother, carries the weight — both spoken and unspoken. Addressing this imbalance, and supported by the Gates Foundation, the gathering brought together professionals, mothers, fathers, corporate leaders, therapists, and customers of TARA to talk, reflect, and participate.

"When we were planning a Mother's Day programme, we realised how often we focus on the struggles mothers face," said Tawhida Shiropa, founder of "Moner Bondhu" and one of the key organisers. "But, we almost never ask, what is the role of a partner in this? That's the question we wanted to bring into the room today in the presence of both parents."

After the opening remarks, the session led by Shiropa and lead psychosocial counsellor Kazi Rumana Haque moved quickly into personal territory. Participants were guided through a breathing exercise. Conversations followed around stress, post-partum depression, parenting styles, and the very idea of what it means to raise a child, not just care for one.

In a room full of people who have been navigating sleepless nights, emotional labour, endless decision-making and unspoken guilt, a kind of ease settled in when they opened up, the kind that only comes when you realise you are not alone.

"This session was really helpful," said Lopa Mustafa, a TARA customer. "It broke down the issues in parenting that we thought were normal or right. These kinds of workshops should happen more often. If the conversations keep happening, maybe the practices will follow."

One young mother shared, "As I'm a new mother, I'm learning every day. Every child is different, so there is not one answer that fits all. But understanding your child and having a supportive partner or family makes all the difference."

A performance choreographed by Arthy Ahmed Dance Academy featuring working mothers who took the time out of their busy schedules to pursue their passion for dancing, was part dance, part diary, full of the tenderness, affection and exhaustion that rarely get seen.

The panel discussion that followed brought more texture to the theme. Experts from education, entrepreneurship, and corporate spaces discussed what it means to parent while also navigating jobs, leadership roles, deadlines, and the emotional weight of it all. The discussion touched on co-parenting, emotional labour, and the urgent need for structural changes, like better maternity leave policies and flexible work hours that do not hamper caregiving.

Kashef Rahman, founder of ShareTrip, one of the panellists, put it simply: "No matter how much involvement the father has, according to the society, the main dependency is on the mother, at least till a certain age. So, expectations are more from her than from me. But that does not mean she's solely responsible. It's about understanding. It's about building a partnership that grows naturally. And if it doesn't, then you build it consciously."

The conversations we have grown up with rarely included the word partnership when it came to parenting. A mother gives, a father provides, and somewhere in the middle, an entire family system quietly leans too hard on one side until something gives out.

There were many small takeaways instead of grand solutions, like — breathe before you break, ask for help, listen more, share more. And above all, know that parenting is not meant to be carried alone.

At least the conversation has begun. Maybe that's where the shift starts.

The event took place on 17 May, 2025.