The State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira has said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various steps for the development and empowerment of women, establishment of equal rights, and creation of employment opportunities.
“Bangladesh is now a role model in the world for women's empowerment,” she said.
She made the remark while speaking as the chief guest at the microloan disbursement ceremony among destitute women of Gazaria in Munshiganj on the occasion of National Cooperative Day on Saturday.
She further said that the government is committed to preventing child marriage and violence against women and children.
“No girl should be the victim of child marriage. We must work strongly to achieve this goal. The law must be strictly enforced in this regard,” she added.
Referring to various programmes of the ministry aimed at empowering women, the State Minister said that Jayita Foundation is creating women entrepreneurs at the grassroots and marketing their products.
“One crore women are being empowered through Tottho Apa project. Many initiatives have been taken in 64 districts of the country, including training of educated women in computer and information technology and training of 2,56,000 marginal women at the grassroots level in various trades,” she said.
She further said that Bangladesh has graduated from a least developed country to a developing country.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh will be a developed and prosperous country before 2041,” she added.
Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Nahid Rasul presided over the function.
Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Farida Parveen, Joint Secretary Ferdousi Begum, Munshiganj Superintendent of Police Abdul Momen and Gazaria Upazila Parishad Chairman Amirul Islam were present as special guests at the event.
The prgramme was conducted by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ziaul Islam Chowdhury.