Deputy Chief of Mission of the USA Embassy in Dhaka JoAnne Wagner on Friday said her country will continue to work with Bangladesh under strong partnership in women empowerment, reports BSS.
“We’re doing some powerful projects… We trained female firefighters as well as using key networks with girls from Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) combat fighters, female entrepreneurs and women scientists,” she said while attending the ‘USAID’s International Women’s Day Debate Competition 2020’ in the capital. Wagner said they are also helping to send Bangladesh female leaders to the
USA for gaining expertise on deal with critical issues like human trafficking and protecting women within the judicial system. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ABC radio 89.2 FM jointly organised the debate as the part of celebrating International Women’s Day-2020. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Dr Rubana Huq attended the event as special guest while USAID Mission Director Derrick Brown and Gender Advisor Mahmuda Rahman Khan also
spoke.
Terming women as the backbone of Bangladesh Readymade Garments (RMG) sector, the engine of the country’s export growth, Brown said women have been a very crucial part in Bangladesh’s development. “USAID believes that when women are doing better the country, communities and families will be able to do better and we’re definitely feeling it here
(Bangladesh) as well,” he said.
Rubana urged all for judging every person equally instead of according to gender. The debate competition was held on ‘The family plays a key role in ensuring girl’s strength’ by the participation of the country’s top educational institutions– Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Notre Dame College, Holy Cross College and St. Joseph Higher Secondary School respectively.
In the first head to head, Notre Dame College secured their victory against Viqarunnisa Noon School and College while Holy Cross College able to win after defeated St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in the second head to head. International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year as a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.
