Young women in rural Bangladesh have been contributing to the overall development and employment in the rural and remote villages, said State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperative Division Swapan Bhattacharjee.
He made the comments at an event organised by Oxfam Bangladesh to share the learning outcomes of their project titled ‘Resilience through Economic Empowerment, Climate Adaptation, Leadership and Learning (REECALL)’ in the capital on Monday.
Oxfam demonstrated the project’s outcomes, including economic justice and women’s empowerment, climate action, active citizenship and knowledge management.
The state minister, addressing the event as the chief guest, said his ministry under an initiative collects cow milk for the state-owned Milk Vita.
“A total of 28 types of food items we produce are from collected cow milk. Poor people in the rural areas are involved in cattle farming to meet the demand for milk.”
The junior minister also said, “60 per cent of the total people involved in the cattle farming to supply milk for milk vita are women,”
“Women are deeply involved in rural development and employment through rural cooperative service,” added he.
Bhattacharjee also urged the rural young women to move for self-employment instead of running for a job.
The government is working to provide necessary facilities to the rural and remote areas to hold the theme of women empowerment, said Mr Swapan.
Julian Francies, development and humanitarian activist, Kazi Rabeya Ame, rural manager of Oxfam in Bangladesh and Ashish Damle, country director, Oxfam in Bangladesh, among others spoke at the event.
Oxfam in Bangladesh has been implementing REECALL project in 13 districts of Bangladesh.
The project is a continuation of Oxfam’s innovative response to the needs of climate-vulnerable communities in char, haor and coastal areas, with emphasis on economic justice, women’s empowerment, climate action, disaster risk reduction, and active citizenship and knowledge management.
Swapan Bhattacharjee said that the purpose of Oxfam’s REECALL programme is aligned with the mission of the Prime Minister who is working to empower women and create resilience among the vulnerable community in different parts of Bangladesh.
Country Director of Oxfam Ashish Damle shared their contribution and journey in Bangladesh, including in providing aid, reconstruction and various influencing works.
