Through involving themselves in the economic as well as income generating activities, the womenfolk, who constitute almost 50 percent of the total population, could play a vital role to make the country self-reliant, they said.

The promotion of Women Entrepreneurs for Economic Empowerment, a project of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha (JMS) under the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, arranged the workshop titled 'Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh' at the BDR Party Point.

Some 40 women entrepreneurs from Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj and Thakurgaon districts attended the workshop and got training on various vocational fields like skill up-gradation, interior decoration, fashion designing, beautification and catering.

JMS has been implementing the five-year-project, financed at Tk 8.91-crore, across the country with a view to assisting the unemployed, educated and semi-educated women in attaining prosperity and empowerment.

Executive Director of JMS Professor Firoza Begum attended the workshop as the chief guest with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) of Rajshahi Saytendra Kumar Sarker in the chair.

Project Director Rezaye Azam Khan, General Manager of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Neyamat Ullah, Senior Vice President of National Bank Limited Sirajul Islam, Executive Director of Association of Community Development Salima Sarwar and Professor Rojeti Nazneen conducted various training sessions of the workshop as resource persons.

Referring to enormous demands of Bangladeshi products in different global markets, speakers urged the participating entrepreneurs to produce quality goods to catch the markets for earning foreign currencies.

In this context, they said the women entrepreneurs should enhance their professional and management skills so that their products could compete in the global markets.

They, however, underscored the need for taking an effective step for creating a women-friendly atmosphere to encourage women more in business.