Bangladesh, a country nestled in South Asia, has been making significant strides in the realm of women’s empowerment and gender equality, largely due to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her relentless efforts and strategic policies have played a pivotal role in uplifting the status of women, promoting their active participation in various sectors, and fostering an environment of gender inclusivity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has implemented a series of policies and initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers that hindered women’s progress. One such groundbreaking policy is the National Women Development Policy, which underscores the government’s commitment to gender mainstreaming and creating an enabling environment for women to thrive in all aspects of society. Recognizing education as the cornerstone of empowerment, Prime Minister Hasina has focused on enhancing educational opportunities for girls. The ‘Girl’s Stipend Program’ and ‘Kishoree Kontha’ initiative have incentivized female education, ensuring girls can access quality education and build a strong foundation for their future. Furthermore, initiatives like ‘Skills for Employment Investment Program’ and ‘Women in IT’ programs have been instrumental in imparting skill development, enabling women to participate actively in the workforce and entrepreneurial ventures. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has taken significant strides to enhance women’s participation in politics, ensuring their voices are heard at all levels of governance. The reserved seats for women in the parliament and local government bodies have boosted their representation, thus amplifying their role in shaping the nation’s policies and strategies. Bangladesh has seen a substantial increase in women’s participation in the workforce across various sectors. The government’s efforts to promote women entrepreneurs through easier access to loans, training, and market linkages have empowered countless women to establish their businesses and contribute to the nation’s economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also prioritized addressing violence against women and ensuring their safety. The establishment of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunals and the National Helpline for Violence against Women and Children showcase the government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for women. In essence, Bangladesh, under the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has witnessed a paradigm shift in promoting gender equality and empowering women. The strides made in education, political representation, economic participation, and safety initiatives have set a positive trajectory, demonstrating the power of visionary leadership and commitment to fostering an egalitarian society. With continued dedication and focused efforts, Bangladesh is poised to elevate its position on the global stage as a beacon of gender equality and empowerment. Source: Ifras.org

Keeping in view the increasing need for women empowerment, the inception meeting of the G20 Empowerment and progression of the Women's Economic Representation (EMPOWER) group of the Ministry of Women and Child Development was held recently. Empowerment and women's rights were the key areas of discussion. During the G20 Empower Inception meeting on Saturday, Union Minister Smriti Irani highlighted the three focus areas under India's G20 Presidency. These three areas include -- "Women's Entrepreneurship: A win-win for Equity and Economy", "Partnership for promoting women's leadership at all levels including at grassroots" and "Education, the key to women's empowerment and equal workforce participation". "G20 Empower Inception Meeting was held in Agra today.  Historically, women have been accorded immense honour & respect in India. In line with our civilisational ethos & Women-led Development as envisioned by PM @narendramodi Ji, @g20org will further bolster @g20empower. #G20India," tweeted Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development. The Vision of G20 EMPOWER is to "Be the most inclusive and action-driven alliance among businesses and Governments to accelerate women's leadership and empowerment across the G20 countries." India's G20 Presidency is inclusive, equitable, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented pushing forward transformative changes for women's economic empowerment. "G20 Empower under India's G20 Presidency will focus on Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Education among women. Today's Inception Meeting in Agra was themed on the importance of Digital Skilling and Future Skills to empower women towards leading across sectors. #G20India," added Irani. The G20 EMPOWER 2023 under India's Presidency is prioritizing the shift from women's development to women-led development. It aims to transform challenges into opportunities accelerating the shift towards women-led entrepreneurship and greater inclusion of women in the workforce. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is India's nodal ministry for G20 EMPOWER. Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd is the Chair of EMPOWER 2023 during India's G20 Presidency. Under India's G20 Presidency, EMPOWER will host three meetings in February, April, and June 2023 at Agra, Thiruvananthapuram and Bhopal respectively. The consensus that emerges from the thematic discussions in these meetings would form part of the Communique for the G20 EMPOWER 2023 and would be provided as recommendations to the G20 leaders. G20 EMPOWER 2023 will focus on women's entrepreneurship, as a win-win for equity and the economy; creating a partnership for promoting women's leadership at grass root levels and on education, as a game-changing pathway for women's empowerment. Digital skilling will be a cross-cutting theme across the three focus areas. The inception meeting on February 11th-12th at Agra, Uttar Pradesh welcomed women leaders from G20 nations, guest countries, international organisations and the private sector. The theme of the meeting was "Empowering Women to Lead across Sectors: Role of Digital Skilling and Future Skills". Efforts of the G20 EMPOWER are an important step towards galvanising women-centric policies across G20 countries. Closing the digital gender gap is imperative, fostering digital gender inclusion and addressing the root causes of this divide will accelerate progress. At the time of taking over the chairpersonship of G20 EMPOWER Indonesia, Dr Sangita Reddy, Chair of G20 EMPOWER emphasized that achieving gender parity in labour force participation and the G20 agenda of achieving "25 by 25" is a significant milestone that we need to pursue. She urged all women who have held positions of power and men who understand the value of gender equity to step forward and help build an equitable world with collaborative and concerted action. Education, training, digital skilling, sustainable financing and equal pay for equal work are some of the factors that will drive women employment, enhance entrepreneurship and help build a developed nation in the "Amrit Kaal (golden age)". The website of the G20 EMPOWER will act as the information and resource centre for all EMPOWER activities and on focus areas during India's G20 Presidency. The aim of the website is to take the EMPOWER message to the people - "Yatra Naryastu Pujyante Ramante Tatra Devata" or When Women are Honoured, Divinity Blossoms there.  Source: ANI

World Bank (WB)'s outgoing country director Mercy Miyang Tembon today commended Bangladesh's overall socioeconomic development including women empowerment under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She expressed her appreciation while she paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's official residence Ganabhaban in the capital. Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the newsmen after the meeting. The WB country director said she has visited several places across Bangladesh and was overwhelmed seeing the development of its grassroots level. Citing the example of a village in Cumilla, Tembon said she is pleased to see the small houses where each family is cultivating vegetables with tree plantation on their home’s premises. She also applauded the prime minister for her Ashrayan Project. In this context, the premier said both husband and wife are the owner of the house being given under the project, and they are utilizing the land in their house premises for growing vegetables. Tembon said she was very much pleased to see that students and other people involved themselves in harvesting paddy to help the farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister replied that leaders and activists of her party Bangladesh Awami League and its associate bodies did the jobs as their political commitment. Regarding women's development, Sheikh Hasina said that the work was not so easy and for this, her government had to face many difficulties. Mentioning that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation of women’s development in this country, she said that her government has implemented various initiatives to ensure the equal rights of women following the footsteps of Bangabandhu. The presence of women in all fields including sports and employment has been ensured as the obstacles for women's progress have been removed, she added. Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus was present. Later, President of International Diabetic Federation Professor Akhtar Hussain also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hussain handed over an invitation letter to the premier to attend the World Diabetic Federation Congress. The event will be held in Portugal next December where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be declared as the first Global Ambassador for Diabetes. Sheikh Hasina thanked the governing body of World Diabetes Federation for unanimously awarding her this title. She emphasised different steps to control diabetes through changing food habit and creating awareness among the mass people. The world diabetic federation president informed its activities to the Prime Minister. National Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad Khan was present. Source: BSS AH

Army Chief General MM Naravane on Wednesday said that the Indian Army is continuously making efforts to encourage women empowerment. "In order to provide equal opportunities to women, the Indian Army has granted Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers, at par with their male counterparts", said Gen Naravane. With the grant of PC, women officers can aspire to achieve greater glory, and shoulder higher ranks and responsibility, he added. He also informed that preparations are already underway at the National Defence Academy, to induct women cadets from June 2022  "The first batch of women soldiers of the Corps of Military Police (CMP) academy has successfully completed their training and have joined their units. These are major developments towards women empowerment in the country. Mentioning the first women officers batch success, he told, "In the field of Human Resource Management, including meeting the aspirations of our Women Officers. The first batch of women soldiers of the CMP has successfully completed their training and have joined their units. These are major developments towards women empowerment in the country". Source:ANI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was awarded ‘Lifetime Contribution for Women Empowerment Award’ on the premises of City Cube-ITB in Berlin on March 7 on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed received the award given by Institute of South Asian Women (ISAW), an official release said. Reports BSS. State minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, among others, was present at the award giving ceremony. Sheikh Hasina won the award for her outstanding contribution to the field of women empowerment as well as her dynamic leadership in South Asian region. AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the Commonwealth leaders to make efforts to build a future where global peace and women empowerment will remain as the cornerstone to create a society free from poverty, discrimination and conflict. She also laid importance on imparting proper education to women for their empowerment in society.  "Without proper education, it's not possible to empower women," she said, addressing a session of the Commonwealth Women Forum on "Educate to Empower: Making Equitable and Quality Primary Education and Secondary Education a reality for Girls across the Commonwealth" at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster in London. Reports BSS. "We foresee a future where women and men work hand in hand for achieving human development," she added.  "Women are considered an equal partner in our journey as a nation," the Prime Minister said, adding that womenfolk have made supreme sacrifice in the country's War of Liberation. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh's constitution recognizes the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination as fundamental rights. The constitution also stipulates that the state shall take a proactive role for advancement of women, she said. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman recognized their sacrifice in the Liberation war by establishing the Women Rehabilitation Centre back in 1972, she said.  The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is leading the way for gender equality in South Asia. The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Bangladesh at 47th position among 144 countries and first in South Asia for success in removing gander disparity.  The forum also ranked Bangladesh 7th among 155 countries in the political empowerment of women, she mentioned. Pointing out the programs taken by Bangladesh to ensure girls' education, the Prime Minister said those include waiving tuition fees for girl students up to 12th grade in schools and introduction of mid-day meal program for more than 2.84 million children. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has introduced world's biggest free textbook distribution program at primary and secondary school levels in 2010, and some 362 million textbooks were distributed this year on the very first day of the academic year.  Sheikh Hasina said nearly 20.3 million students, mostly girls, are brought under stipend and scholarship programs. Arrangements were made for separate wash-blocks for girls in every school, she said.  Pointing out adoption of the National Women Development Policy in 2011, the Prime Minister said the progressive policy has focused on participation and empowerment of women as an integral objective. Sheikh Hasina said the government has increased the number of female reserved seats in the National Parliament to 50 from 30.  The current Parliament has 22 more directly elected women MPs, she said. Bangladesh Parliament, possibly, is the lone Parliament in the world where the Speaker is a woman, leader of the House, Deputy Leader of the House and Opposition leader are all women, she said. The Prime Minister said economic and political transformation of women is vividly evident in rural Bangladesh where according to the Bureau of Statistics about 20 million women are engaged in agriculture, industry and service sectors.  Readymade garments shares 82 percent of Bangladesh's export earnings, while 80 percent of nearly 4.5 million readymade garments workers are women, she said. Sheikh Hasina said her government has offered special facilities for female entrepreneurs, giving collateral-free bank loan with only 5 percent service charge.  The premier said nearly 6,000 Digital Centers have been set up across the country where participation of at least one female with one male partner has been made compulsory to provide online services to the people.  "One House One Farm" project undertaken by my government is distributing microcredit to rural women," she said.  The Prime Minister said the government's education policy 2010 laid emphasis on education that promotes economic productivity and social and humane qualities.  For the first time, she said, the government has made one-year pre-primary education compulsory, while curriculum has been modernized, especially aimed at bringing madrassa students into mainstream education. The Prime Minister said girls' education in Bangladesh helps eliminate various social hurdles and has increased living standards of the rural women.  'Incidences of exploitation and domestic abuses have gone down substantially," she said.  Expressing her firm resolve to end the marriage of girls below the age of 15 years by 2021, the Prime Minister said marriage rate of girls under-18 decreased to 47 percent in 2017 from 62 percent in 2015. Marriage of girls' under-15 dropped to 10.7 percent in 2017 from 23.8 percent in 2015, she said. Highlighting Bangladesh's bright economic prospects, the Prime Minister aid the country has reached a new trajectory in its development journey.  "Bangladesh's GDP is projected to grow at 7.65 percent in the current fiscal year while poverty rate decreased to 22 percent in 2017 from 41.5 percent in 2006," she said, adding that the United Nations last month declared Bangladesh eligible for graduation from the LDC to developing country.  The Prime Minister said education for all has been set as the prime objective of her government towards achieving the overarching policy visions of inclusive development with the guiding norm of SDGs.  "Our national plans and policies including the 7th five-year plan are geared towards the goal," she said, adding: "Twelve years of quality education for girls and boys by 2030 is also our priority and commitment." AH