The government is prioritizing the financial well-being and self-reliance of women: Mahdi Amin

Bangla Press Desk: There is a specific target to provide ‘family cards’ to 4.1 million (41 lakh) women in the current fiscal year. Ensuring the prosperity and economic self-reliance of women at the grassroots and marginalized levels is a government priority. Prime Minister’s Advisor Mahdi Amin stated that this program—a key election pledge—is being implemented expeditiously.

He made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at the ‘National Summit on Young Women’s Empowerment,’ held on Tuesday (October 27) at the Sheraton Hotel in the capital.

Emphasizing women’s empowerment and the improvement of educational standards, Mahdi Amin noted that women across different strata of society have diverse needs and contexts. Therefore, alongside empowering women at the grassroots level, it is essential to equip women from all walks of life with quality education and modern skills.
Highlighting the current government’s political accountability and vision, he remarked that as an administration elected through the direct vote of the people, it holds specific commitments to the public. The government possesses a clear policy framework and a defined vision set forth by the Prime Minister. He further noted that the government also carries a proud legacy.

Reflecting on past initiatives for the advancement of women in Bangladesh, Mahdi Amin pointed out that the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Women’s Affairs—as well as the development of the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, a vital arena for women’s economic empowerment—were initiated under the leadership of the late President Ziaur Rahman. Subsequently, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia established Bangladesh as a global role model for women’s empowerment by introducing free education for girls up to the 12th grade.

Building upon this foundation, the current government has announced and begun the implementation of an initiative to extend free education for women from the 12th grade through the undergraduate level, he added.

Government Initiatives in Sports and Education

Highlighting various government initiatives in the fields of sports and education, Mahdi Amin stated that sports are being prioritized nationwide under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. As part of an initiative to make sports a mandatory component of the curriculum starting from the primary level, new textbooks are being introduced for the fourth grade in the upcoming academic year. He stated that to encourage sports in educational institutions, the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ (New Buds Sports) initiative was launched this year, involving approximately 1.7 million students. Furthermore, in coordination with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, steps have been taken to organize competitions in debating, arts, literature, and Quran recitation—alongside sports—across schools, colleges, and universities. The objective is to foster the latent talents and intellectual growth of the students.

Highlighting the success of football tournaments in primary schools, the Prime Minister’s Advisor noted that a recent tournament for students in grades one through five saw the participation of 1.1 million boys and an equal number of girls—a rare achievement globally. Sports do more than just enhance physical fitness; they also improve interpersonal communication skills, promote equality, and contribute to the creation of an inclusive, non-discriminatory society.
Opportunities for Women to Become Entrepreneurs

Mahdi Amin identified government and private-sector employment, entrepreneurship, and the international labor market as key avenues for women’s employment. He emphasized the critical importance of developing women as entrepreneurs, noting that the government’s vision is for women to move beyond merely seeking jobs and instead become entrepreneurs themselves, thereby creating employment opportunities for others.

To this end, he explained that the government is facilitating access to low-interest, collateral-free loans with flexible terms—prioritizing youth and women—alongside providing seed funding for innovative ideas and government grants.

Emphasizing the empowerment of the people, Mahdi Amin stated that such empowerment serves as the cornerstone of a nation’s strength. To ensure this, the younger generation and women must be empowered economically, socially, and politically. The government is committed to acting as a guardian, providing continuous support to help young people and women evolve into modern, global citizens.

Commitment to Collaboration with Development Partners

Commending the long-standing contributions of organizations like Save the Children and UNICEF in Bangladesh, Mahdi Amin remarked that these agencies and development partners have played a responsible role over the years. Their institutional presence and ongoing initiatives in Bangladesh serve as an inspiration to the current government. He expressed the government’s firm commitment to stand by them with the utmost sincerity.

He further stated that the government believes it is possible to successfully advance Bangladesh by bringing all development partners onto a common platform and fostering coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors.

The conference, chaired by A S M Rahmat Ullah Bhuiyan, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh, was also attended by Deepa Shankar, Chief of the Education Section at UNICEF; Kazi Moklesur Rahman, Additional Secretary and Project Director of the ‘EARN’ project; and Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, among others.

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