Training, support to be ensured to make women self-reliant: Zahid

Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain today (2 September) said that training and support beyond conventional approaches would be ensured to make women self-reliant. 

"To make women economically self-reliant, training will be provided in modern trades, taking into account market needs, going beyond traditional approaches," he said. 

The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a cheque distribution ceremony for grants for the fiscal year 2025-26 among registered voluntary women's associations under the Department of Women Affairs at Bangladesh Shishu Academy here, said an official handout.

Secretary of the Woman and Children Affairs Ministry Dr Rowsan Ara Begum presided over the programme. 

He said that in the future, government assistance would be provided to relevant associations and organizations based on an assessment of field-level performance and efficiency.

Zahid said the government is issuing Family Cards based on equal rights and justice for citizens irrespective of religion, race, hill or plain areas and political ideology in line with its election manifesto.

He said the trainees should not be limited to receiving certificates only; rather, they should be developed as successful entrepreneurs. 

Specialized training, seed money (initial capital) required to start businesses and multifaceted institutional support would be provided so that products manufactured by entrepreneurs could be marketed quickly and easily, the minister added.

He instructed the district-level training centers to be fully operational immediately by equipping them with modern equipment and technology. 

Zahid also stressed properly preserving detailed information of all trainees in the MIS (Management Information System) after completion of their training.

He said modern care-giving training would be arranged at the district level to ensure greater participation of women in the rapidly growing global "care economy".

The minister called for expediting the recruitment process against existing vacant posts under the Department of Women Affairs to ensure quick and uninterrupted services to the general public.

At the same time, he made a strong call for building a powerful social movement involving people from all walks of life to eliminate social menace such as violence against women and children, dowry and child marriage.

At the event, cheques amounting to Taka 8,15,02,600 were distributed as general grants among 3,180 associations in three categories under the fiscal year 2025-26. 

Besides, Taka 35,00,000 was distributed as revolving grants among 70 associations in 40 districts while Taka 23,94,300 was distributed as discretionary grants among 69 associations in 21 districts.