Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, met with Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka this morning.
Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, met with Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka this morning.
MD Babul Bangladesh Representative
The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament Shama Obaid Islam, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Mahdi Amin and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook, among others.
Dr. Rahman warmly welcomed the Duchess to Bangladesh and praised her long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment, girls’ education and the welfare of children and adolescents. He also acknowledged the Duchess’s continued involvement in eye health and her campaign to prevent preventable blindness.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on women’s economic empowerment, maternal and child health, elimination of gender-based violence and youth development. Dr. Rahman highlighted the government’s commitment to building a healthy Bangladesh, which includes initiatives such as reducing maternal mortality and recruiting 100,000 health workers to strengthen healthcare. He also spoke about the government’s social protection programs, such as the Family Card and the Farmers Card, to provide social and economic support to families and communities. He highlighted the importance of free education for girls and expanding opportunities for women.
Dr. Rahman further briefed Her Royal Highness Princess on the long-standing work and contributions of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and Suravi in furthering social welfare and improving the living standards of the underprivileged. He elaborated on the Ziaur Rahman Foundation’s efforts to place women at the centre of development through economic independence, self-reliance and skill development. He also highlighted Suravi’s work in education, child protection, health, nutrition, WASH and skill development, with a special focus on children and women from the poorest and most marginalized communities. Drawing on the experiences and best practices of these organizations, Dr. Rahman explained how their initiatives have inspired the government’s policy priorities and are reflected in its election manifesto.
In this context, she also mentioned various initiatives taken to support and develop underprivileged children and youth, including the Shishu Swarg Model in urban slum areas, the Blue Sky Programme and the efforts to develop and care for children with special needs. She also highlighted the government’s tree plantation initiatives, particularly the ‘One Student, One Tree’ programme, to raise environmental awareness.
Her Royal Highness the Princess commended the government’s initiatives in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment and the welfare of underprivileged children. She particularly commended the contributions of the Surbhi and Ziaur Rahman Foundations and the government’s efforts to leverage their experience in broader policy-making. The Duchess also commended the Prime Minister’s strong voice and commitment to women’s empowerment and her strong statement on violence against women.
Dr. Rahman commended the Duchess’s interest in the ongoing Rohingya crisis and called for continued international support for the Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh. She also reiterated the importance of their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar. Her Royal Highness the Duchess commended Bangladesh for its generosity and humanitarian commitment in hosting large numbers of Rohingya over the years and acknowledged the country’s important responsibility in this regard. She also assured her continued efforts to keep the Rohingya issue high on the international agenda.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on shared priorities and explore ways to further cooperate in the areas of women’s empowerment, improving healthcare and education, and protecting vulnerable populations.
