Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ In a statement today, State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, lauded Bangladesh as a shining example of women’s empowerment and progress, attributing this remarkable achievement to the government’s pragmatic initiatives over the past 14 and a half years. Palak emphasized the pivotal role played by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s astute leadership and meticulously crafted plans, which have led to unprecedented advancements in various sectors, notably in women’s empowerment, education, and healthcare.
Palak stated, “Due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s prudent leadership and her well designed plans, Bangladesh witnessed unprecedented progress in all sectors, including women empowerment, education, and health”. Palak made these remarks during a virtual address at the closing ceremony of a workshop called ‘Training of Trainers (TOT)’ organized by the ‘Her Power Project,’ an initiative under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division. The workshop aimed to nurture women IT service providers and entrepreneurs across Bangladesh, and it was held at the ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Highlighting the significance of the ‘Her Power Project,’ Palak noted that it was named personally by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and it follows the successful implementation of the ‘She Power Project.’ Furthermore, the government has taken a series of measures to promote gender equality within the economic sector. The event featured key figures, including ICT Division Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin, ICT Department Director General Md Mostafa Kamal, and ICT Department Director Md Manir Hossain. Her Power Project Director Rayhana Islam presided over the proceedings.
Palak emphasized that the success of creating ‘smart entrepreneurs’ in the context of a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ depends on the dedication and effectiveness of the trainers. He announced that upon the completion of training and internship, each trainee would be provided with a laptop, a potent tool for conquering the world and enhancing women’s participation in the ‘smart economy.’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to distribute these laptops to the trainees.
As per the press release, the ICT Department is currently conducting Training of Trainers (TOT) for 200 women ICT service providers, involving 24 vendor institutions under the project. These trainers will subsequently offer a comprehensive five-month-long training program to 25,125 women across four distinct categories in 130 upazilas spanning 43 districts nationwide. A total of 160 women from each upazila and 184 from each sadar upazila will benefit from this training program.
