The present government has committed to ensuring women’s empowerment, gender equality, and child welfare. In line with this pledge, the government has undertaken various new initiatives in addition to continuing ongoing activities for the well-being of women and children. A medium-term action plan has been developed for the period of FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26 in order to ensure the welfare of women and children.
Under this plan, daycare centres will be established in 64 districts to support working mothers in caring for their children. Efforts will be made in a number of areas including providing sanitary towels to protect adolescent health, distributing bicycles to school-going girls for their empowerment, and taking measures to prevent violence against women and child marriage. Additionally, working women’s hostels will be constructed, child development centres will be established and operated, vocational training will be provided for Qawmi Madrasa children, and programmes such as ‘Safe Internet and Safe Children’ will be implemented.
The budget for FY 2023-24 was approved by the national parliament on 26 June 2023.The FY 2023-24 budget prioritises women’s political, economic, and social empowerment, gender discrimination, children’s rights, decent work for women, and safety and development of women and children. The government aims to achieve these goals by implementing various activities following the National Women Development Policy-2011. Strengthening women’s empowerment in the face of smart work environments and climate change is also emphasised.
The development of a conducive working environment, along with skill and capacity building through training and awareness activities, has contributed to an increase in the participation rate of the female labour force in the workplace. The rate has risen from 36 per cent in FY 2010 to 42.7 per cent at present, and the government aims to further consolidate this progress.
Through the implementation of gender-sensitive policies, Bangladesh has improved its ranking in the ‘Gender Gap Index’ reported by the World Economic Forum. In 2006, the country was ranked 91st out of 115 countries, but it has now upgraded to the 71st position out of 146 countries. Bangladesh is also ranked 9th in the world for women’s political empowerment. The total gender-related allocation for FY 2023-24 amounts to BDT 2,61,787 crore.
In addition to regular social protection programmes for women, the government is conducting micro-credit programmes to enhance self-employment and socio-economic conditions. Loans have already been disbursed to 227,000 women in 488 upazilas across 64 districts. Moreover, self-employment loan activities are being carried out in all 64 districts under the Special Fund of the Honorable Prime Minister.
To safeguard women and children, the government has established ‘One Stop Crisis Centers’ and ‘One Stop Cells’ to provide services to those who have experienced abuse. Eight regional trauma counselling centres have been set up at divisional and district-level medical college hospitals. Additionally, modern complex buildings have been constructed in six district branches of Bangladesh Shishu Academy, where approximately 35,000 children receive training in various subjects each year, contributing to their development and welfare.
Publication Period: June 2023