The Prime Minister has promised to increase the participation of women in the workplace to 50 percent

 The Prime Minister has promised to increase the participation of women in the workplace to 50 percent

 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised to increase women's participation in the workplace to 50-50 by 2041, as well as to protect their jobs in the wake of the Kovid-19 epidemic.

 At the same time, the Prime Minister called upon the international community to renew its commitment and strengthen its efforts to ensure equality, empowerment and progress of women.

 He made the call while addressing a high-level virtual meeting at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday (October 1st).

 The Prime Minister further said that in the context of COVID-19, women workers, including migrant workers in other major workplaces, including the global supply chain, must be protected so that they are not marginalized and financially harmed again.

 The high-level meeting was held on the occasion of the 25th founding anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women on the sidelines of the 75th Annual Session of the UN General Assembly.

 Highlighting the other two issues, the Prime Minister first said that the world can benefit from every girl whose potential has already been realized, every woman whose talent is underdeveloped and it is possible to develop it only through education.

 Second, he said, empowerment is created through income and employment.  Therefore, the involvement of women in income generating activities should be given priority.  The Prime Minister said she was happy to take part in the celebrations of the 25th founding anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women.  "On this 25th anniversary, I would like to pledge to increase women's participation in the workplace to 50-50 by 2041," she said. The Prime Minister said the Covid-19 epidemic has increased the risk, especially of women.

 She said women were being discriminated against and increasing domestic violence at this time of the epidemic.  That is why our hard-earned achievements in women's empowerment are under threat.

 She said the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment created a major roadmap.  It has drastically changed our attitude towards women and acted as a catalyst for positive development.

 Highlighting Bangladesh's outstanding development in women empowerment, Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman put women at the center of the country's development agenda soon after independence.

 He further said that under the undisputed leadership of Bangabandhu, a constitution based on equal rights of men and women was ensured in the country.  Our development work has emphasized on meeting the real agreed needs of women. Emphasis has been placed on the inclusion of all types of people from all walks of life in our development.

 Sheikh Hasina said, "That is why we have emphasized on economic and political empowerment of women besides education."  We consider women as active workers in development.

 The Prime Minister further said that the government has formulated a progressive women development policy in 2011.  The number of seats reserved for women in the National Assembly has been increased to 50.

 Sheikh Hasina further said that the Leader of Parliament, Deputy Leader of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition and Speaker are women.  In the local government system, 30 per cent seats are reserved for women. And special provisions have been made to increase the representation of women in public service.

 She said women are now becoming high court judges, vice chancellors of public universities, secretaries of ministries and much more.  Gender budgeting, microfinance and similar initiatives have ensured women's financial inclusion.

 The Prime Minister said the government's investment in women is bringing benefits as women in every sphere of society prosper.  Today, 20 million women are employed in agriculture, industry and services, and more than 3.5 million women work in the readymade garments sector, which is our largest export earner.

 Sheikh Hasina said so far about 1,000 women army and police officers have served in UN peacekeeping operations.  Our women are breaking barriers and succeeding in professions that previous generations could never have imagined.

 The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has gained a lot of praise worldwide for its success in women empowerment.  According to the Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum, we are leading in South Asia in the overall empowerment of women.  It ranks fifth globally among 149 countries and seventh in political empowerment. We have much more to do.