Matia lauds Hasina's steps for women's empowerment

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury yesterday said Bangladesh has uplifted itself to a lower-middle income country thanks to the different actions and programmes taken by the present government.

Bangladesh would turn into a developed country in the coming years if the competent person held the driving seat," she said, referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's policy towards agriculture and women's empowerment, among other issues.

Matia, an Awami League Presidium member, was addressing as the chief guest a programme marking the International Women's Day at the National Economic Council conference hall in the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the Economic Relations Department (ERD) of the finance ministry jointly organised the programme styled "Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up - for gender equality through eradicating gender gap in agriculture."

Highlighting women's contribution to the agriculture, the minister said women were more and more coming towards this field since equal opportunities were created for both male and female farmers in getting agri-input assistance cards, which her ministry had introduced to promote agriculture across the country.

FAO Representative in Dhaka Mike Robson presented a keynote paper at the discussion, highlighting different aspects of women empowerment.

Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Public Administration Ministry Ismat Ara Sadique said the government had been giving importance to women at both administrative and field levels to promote women empowerment.    

Sultana Afroz, joint secretary of ERD, delivered welcome address at the programme chaired by ERD Senior Secretary Mohammad Mesbah Uddin and attended by, among others, Sadeka Halim, professor of sociology at Dhaka University, and Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh.