France’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, has paid a courtesy call on Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Minister for Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, July 21, in the minister’s office at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The two sides held discussions on strengthening mutual cooperation, women’s empowerment, protection of women’s rights, sustainable development of women and children, prevention of child marriage, the Family Card, the Maternity Allowance Programme, mid-day meals, countering terrorism and other matters of bilateral interest.
The minister said France is a reliable and friendly development partner of Bangladesh. He expressed gratitude for the French government’s development cooperation and support at various times since Bangladesh’s independence.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in line with the election pledges given to the people, is issuing Family Cards in women’s names, giving priority to women’s rights as part of the government’s women’s policy, the minister said.
He added that making women’s education completely free up to the undergraduate level has raised the rate of women’s education and increased their participation in the workforce. Day-care centers are being expanded so that working women can leave their children safely and go to work; the prime minister has already visited several such centers.
The French ambassador praised the government’s landmark steps and social-welfare programs for women’s empowerment, gender equality and the protection of destitute children. He said the Family Card and initiatives to make marginalized women economically self-reliant were playing an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The ambassador also assured technical and development cooperation from the French government in building women’s skills, vocational training and a climate-resilient society.
The minister said the government, prioritizing the care economy, is training women in care-giving and in various languages; many have already taken such training and gone to Arab countries. He sought special assistance so opportunities may be created for women in France too, and so that Bangladeshi women can export their handmade products to France. The ambassador expressed hope for positive cooperation.
Finally, the ambassador invited the minister to attend a conference on Feminist Foreign Policy to be held in September.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report