Article written by Cowater International.
Modina walks through the corridors of the Mohakhali College of Nursing, her steps steady and assured. Her sari flows with every step, but it’s her sneakers that catch the eye. A quiet defiance of convention. A symbol of movement and change.
Today, Modina is the Principal of one of Dhaka’s largest nursing colleges, leading a team of dedicated teachers and shaping the future of thousands of nursing students. But her path to leadership wasn’t straightforward. Like many women in Bangladesh, she faced systemic barriers that too often keep nurses – especially women – out of decision-making role.
A Journey of Transformation
Before she was the Principal, Modina was a skilled nurse with ambition but no clear path forward. She knew she could do more but lacked the tools to break through a system where nurses were rarely recognized as leaders. That changed in 2014, when she was trained though the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Cowater International. “I always knew I could do more. I just didn’t know how,” she recalls. “HRH gave me the tools to lead”.
HRH was more than just training – it was a turning point for nursing in Bangladesh. The project strengthened nursing and midwifery education and services nationwide, directly improving 43 public sector nursing institutes and impacting 16,400 students by enhancing training environments, providing technical assistance, and building institutional capacity.
Through HRH, Modina enrolled in a management training program designed to develop leadership skills for nurses – something rarely prioritized in traditional nursing education. She learned how to navigate administrative structures, manage complex healthcare environments, and most importantly, gained confidence in her ability to lead.
Advancing Nursing Leadership with ProNurse
Building on HRH’s foundation, the ProNurse project, another Global Affairs Canada funded project, implemented by Cowater International, takes this transformation further by bringing another critical piece to the puzzle: professional recognition. Despite being at the heart of patient care, nurses in Bangladesh have long been undervalued compared to doctors. Without a structured career path, the profession struggled to attract and retain talent, leading to critical shortages in the healthcare system.
ProNurse is addressing this challenge by ensuring that nurses receive the recognition, support, and career opportunities they deserve. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and key stakeholders, the project is driving systemic change by:
- Establishing Bangladesh’s first structured nursing career path, offering professional growth opportunities that never existed before.
- Introducing specialized training, allowing nurses to develop expertise in critical care, mental health, IPC, Geriatric nursing and leadership.
- Strengthening nursing institutions, improving education quality and ensuring future nurses graduate with the skills they need.
- Fostering public private partnerships to elevate the nursing profession and open new career opportunities.
“Our role as nurses has always been vital, yet we have struggled for recognition,” Modina says. “ProNurse is changing that – not just by training individuals but by transforming the system.” The impact is already visible. With improved professional recognition, nursing enrollment is projected to rise by 30%, addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system.
Leading the Next Generation
Beyond the policies and institutional reforms, Modina’s transformation is perhaps the most telling indicator of success. Today, she’s not just managing a nursing college – she’s mentoring young nurses through the ProNurse Leadership for Change Program, showing them what’s possible. “It’s still not easy being a woman leading in this field. You have to constantly challenge stereotypes. But now, I have the confidence to do that – and to help others do the same.”
Modina is also a mother. One of her children is a medical doctor, the other an engineer. She balances her leadership role with family responsibilities – something that many women, particularly in nursing, struggle with. Unpaid care work remains a significant burden, yet she sees her role as an educator not just about technical skills but about changing perceptions of what women – especially nurses – can achieve.
With leaders like Modina paving the way, the future of nursing in Bangladesh is no longer just about filling gaps – it’s about elevating a profession, strengthening healthcare, and ensuring that women’s contributions are valued at every level.
PODCAST - Cowater interview with Geneviève Rouleau, Senior Coordinator at IHU/USI
Find out how cooperation and innovation are transforming nursing education, enhancing professional development and raising the voice of women in Bangladesh's healthcare sector.
About the ProNurse project:
The ProNurse project is implemented by Cowater International in partnership with the Université de Montréal via the International Health Unit (IHU/USI) and the Faculté des sciences infirmières (FSI),. the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, in close collaboration with the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, the Bangladesh Council of Nurses and Midwives and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It aims to create an environment conducive to the active participation of nurses in the healthcare sector. The ProNurse project will achieve this by providing technical assistance to support public and private nursing stakeholders, strengthening nurses' clinical, management and teaching capacities, and improving the infrastructure of nursing education institutions. USI and FSI expertise will be mobilized primarily to improve the quality of nursing education in the public and private sectors.