Project on women's participation launched

A project to ensure satisfactory participation of women in the country's labour force was launched in the capital yesterday.

The project, titled “Women's Economic Empowerment through Strengthening Market Systems”, is funded by the Swedish embassy.

It will be implemented in Rangpur and Khulna districts to help at least 1,000 women to become entrepreneurs.

The five-year project was launched at a dialogue on “Re-Imagining Sustainable Pathways for Women's Economic Empowerment in Rural Bangladesh".

International Development Enterprises (iDE) and The Asia Foundation organised the programme at hotel in Dhaka.

Addressing the programme, Dr Atiur Rahman, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, said economic strength is a necessary condition for women empowerment and innovation of policies is a great way to encourage women become entrepreneurs.

Economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Charlotta Schlyter were present among others at the event moderated by Bangladesh Federation of Women Entrepreneurs President Rokia Afzal Rahman.