Dhaka: Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced new initiatives focusing on modern training and support to empower women economically, stepping beyond traditional methods. "To make women economically self-reliant, training will be provided in modern trades, taking into account market needs, going beyond traditional approaches," stated the minister at a cheque distribution ceremony held at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event marked the distribution of grants for the fiscal year 2025-26 among registered voluntary women's associations under the Department of Women Affairs. Secretary of the Woman and Children Affairs Ministry, Dr. Rowsan Ara Begum, presided over the programme. Zahid emphasized that future government assistance would be determined based on performance and efficiency assessments of relevant associations and organizations.
Minister Zahid highlighted the government's commitment to issuing Family Cards based on equal rights and justice for all citizens, regardless of religion, race, geographic location, or political ideology, aligning with the election manifesto. He underscored the importance of developing trainees into successful entrepreneurs rather than merely awarding them certificates.
The minister detailed plans to provide specialized training, seed money, and multifaceted institutional support to ensure quick and easy marketing of products manufactured by entrepreneurs. He urged district-level training centers to become fully operational with modern equipment and technology.
Further, Zahid stressed the importance of maintaining trainee information within the Management Information System (MIS) and announced plans for modern caregiving training at the district level, enhancing women's participation in the global "care economy." He also called for swift recruitment against vacant posts in the Department of Women Affairs to ensure uninterrupted public services.
Zahid concluded by advocating for a powerful social movement to eradicate issues such as violence against women and children, dowry, and child marriage. At the event, a total of Taka 8,15,02,600 was distributed as general grants among 3,180 associations, Taka 35,00,000 as revolving grants among 70 associations in 40 districts, and Taka 23,94,300 as discretionary grants among 69 associations in 21 districts.