Bangladesh Seeks JICA Support to Empower Grassroots Women
The Minister for Women and Children Affairs has met with a JICA delegation in Dhaka. Discussions focused on expanding training centers for women at the upazila level.
Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain, who serves as the Minister for Women and Children Affairs as well as the Minister for Social Welfare, held a courtesy meeting with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The high-level diplomatic and developmental engagement took place on August 19, 2026, at the Secretariat located in the capital city of Dhaka.
The visiting JICA delegation was led by Takahashi Junko, who holds the position of Chief Representative at the JICA Bangladesh Office. During the official proceedings at the ministry, the two sides discussed various avenues of ongoing bilateral cooperation and mutual developmental interests between Japan and Bangladesh.
A key focus of the discussions centered on the socioeconomic advancement of marginalized populations. Specifically, the ministry officially sought technical cooperation from JICA to expand training centers down to the upazila level. The proposed expansion is strategically designed to enhance the living standards and practical skill sets of grassroots women across the country.
Highlighting the enduring partnership between the two nations, Minister Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain acknowledged Japan and JICA as proven friends of Bangladesh, noting a strong collaborative relationship that has spanned a long period of 50 years.
Furthermore, the minister elaborated on the broader administrative and social vision of the administration. He stated that the current government is actively working to build an inclusive and humane Bangladesh by actively involving all strata of the population, with a particular emphasis on empowering women and children.
