Dhaka: Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain highlighted the potential benefits of Swedish experience and technical support for enhancing Bangladesh’s social welfare programs, with a particular emphasis on gender issues, during a meeting with Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting involved discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas such as social welfare, women and child development, gender equality, social protection, and humanitarian assistance. Minister Hossain expressed gratitude to Sweden for its ongoing support of various development projects and social programs in Bangladesh.
The minister emphasized the government’s focus on empowering women and children, promoting inclusion for persons with disabilities, and uplifting marginalized communities. He mentioned that the Universal Family Card, initiated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, aims to benefit ordinary citizens, with the first phase distributing 37,814 cards in Dhaka and 911 in Bogura, primarily targeting households led by women. Beneficiary families receive a monthly allowance of 2,500 taka through mobile wallets or banks.
Furthermore, the government is implementing food programs to address the nutritional needs of primary school students and has declared zero tolerance for violence against women and children. Other initiatives include expanding daycare centers, offering co-curricular education through children’s academies, and providing training in foreign languages and caregiving to boost youth employment.
Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks commended Bangladesh’s social welfare efforts and reiterated Sweden’s dedication to strengthening its friendly relations with Bangladesh. He identified potential collaboration areas, including gender-based violence prevention, child nutrition and education, and humanitarian assistance for climate-vulnerable populations. Weeks assured continued technical support, training, and financial aid to assist Bangladesh in achieving its social development objectives.
The statement also mentioned that their discussions covered the Rohingya refugee crisis, women entrepreneurship development, child rights and education, inclusive programs for persons with disabilities, and sustainable social development initiatives. Minister Hossain sought Sweden’s cooperation in implementing Bangladesh’s ‘Integrated Social Welfare Model’ by utilizing Swedish expertise.
The meeting was attended by senior ministry officials and representatives from the Swedish embassy.