Social Welfare Minister meets JICA delegation in Dhaka
Bangladesh's Social Welfare Minister met with the Chief Representative of JICA's Bangladesh office on August 19 at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Discussions during the courtesy meeting covered women and children's development, Rohingya humanitarian assistance, and economic empowerment.
On August 19, a delegation led by Takahashi Junko, the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain. The high-level official meeting took place at the Secretariat in the capital city of Dhaka, bringing together key representatives from both the government and the international development agency to deliberate on pressing national and regional issues.
During the formal discussions at the Secretariat, the Minister and the JICA delegation engaged in comprehensive talks concerning several critical sectors. The agenda prominently featured the overall development of women and children, ongoing humanitarian assistance for displaced Rohingya populations, the advancement of female education, and initiatives aimed at fostering economic empowerment across Bangladesh.
Highlighting the government's ongoing developmental efforts during the meeting, Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain made significant remarks regarding the administration's targeted welfare initiatives. He emphasized that the government's Family Card project serves a much broader purpose than mere monetary assistance, describing the scheme as a highly effective and sustainable social investment dedicated specifically to the economic empowerment of women.
Elaborating further on the tangible impacts of the initiative, the Minister noted how beneficiaries are utilizing the financial provisions. He stated that the funds received through the Family Card are being actively used by women to procure nutritious food for their households and essential daily commodities, while also covering educational expenses and medical treatment costs for their children, alongside facilitating small-scale savings.
The meeting underscored the enduring partnership between Bangladesh and international entities like JICA, building upon a cooperative relationship that has spanned the last 50 years. Both sides reviewed existing collaborative frameworks involving the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, exploring pathways to strengthen future developmental interventions and reinforce institutional capacities to better serve vulnerable populations throughout the country.
