From forensic DNA testing and emergency responses to violence to livelihood training, childcare and rehabilitation, the government is planning to expand a range of services for women and children, seeking to strengthen protection while creating opportunities for economic independence.
The initiatives outlined in the government’s FY2026-27 budget document combine social protection with access to justice, skills development, and long-term rehabilitation for vulnerable children.
It is also continuing a food assistance programme covering 1.04 million vulnerable women and operating rehabilitation facilities for children living on the streets or facing other forms of vulnerability.
However, the scale of the challenges remains significant, particularly in preventing gender-based violence, ensuring access to justice and enabling women to participate more fully in the economy.
Violence against women remains a major concern
Under the Multisectoral Programme to Prevent Violence Against Women, the government has established a National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory and divisional DNA screening laboratories to strengthen investigations into rape, murder and other violent crimes.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), with technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), conducted the Violence Against Women Survey 2024, interviewing 27,476 women aged 15 and above.
The survey, published in October 2025, found that 76 percent of women had experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence during their lifetime, while 49 percent had experienced such violence in the preceding 12 months. The forms of violence included physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse, as well as controlling behaviour.
Two in three survivors did not disclose the violence they experienced, highlighting the barriers women face in seeking help.
The findings underline the importance of ensuring that forensic facilities are complemented by accessible reporting mechanisms, legal assistance, medical care and protection for survivors.
The government has also formed a Quick Response Team to take immediate action in cases involving violence against women and children. The initiative aims to improve coordination among relevant agencies and ensure faster assistance to victims.
Economic independence and social protection
Expanding women’s economic opportunities is another major component of the government’s plan.
A comprehensive database of emerging and aspiring women entrepreneurs is being compiled to help identify their needs and connect them with training, credit facilities and markets.
The initiative is intended to bring more women entrepreneurs into a formal support framework, allowing them to develop income-generating activities and expand their businesses.
The second phase of the Income-Generating Activities Training Project for Women is also being implemented at the upazila level to equip women with skills that can help them earn an income.
For women in coastal areas, specialised adaptation projects are being undertaken to strengthen their ability to cope with climate-related challenges and protect their livelihoods.
The measures are particularly relevant to communities exposed to cyclones, flooding, salinity and other environmental pressures that can disrupt household incomes and deepen existing vulnerabilities.
Alongside these initiatives, the government is continuing direct food assistance for vulnerable women under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) programme.
According to the budget document, 1,040,000 women across 4,586 unions in 493 upazilas are receiving 30 kilogrammes of rice and fortified rice every month.
The programme provides an important form of household food support, although its long-term impact on women’s economic independence will also depend on opportunities for employment, access to finance and the sustainability of income-generating activities.
Daycare expansion targets working mothers
The government has planned modern daycare facilities to help working women balance employment and childcare responsibilities.
Twenty centres are planned in the first phase, followed by another 60 in the next phase.
The facilities are intended to provide safe care for children while enabling mothers to continue working, particularly those who lack affordable childcare options.
The proposal comes amid broader efforts to increase women’s participation in economic activities. Affordable and reliable childcare can help reduce the burden of unpaid care work, which often limits women’s ability to pursue paid employment.
The government is also adopting specific projects for the social security and rehabilitation of female migrant workers returning home.
The initiatives are intended to help returnees reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their livelihoods after overseas employment.
Access to vocational training, financial services and employment opportunities will be important in determining whether these programmes can help women achieve lasting economic security.
Support for children from early years to rehabilitation
The government’s plans also cover children’s development, protection and social security from conception through the age of eight.
Social awareness and parenting programmes are being implemented to improve parents’ understanding of early childhood development, protection and care.
Such interventions seek to strengthen the family environment during the early years, when access to proper care and developmental support can influence children’s longer-term wellbeing.
For children living on the streets or facing other forms of vulnerability, the government is pursuing rehabilitation measures aimed at returning them to their families where appropriate.
Under these initiatives, children who have received education and training are being supported to return to their families, with financial assistance provided to the households concerned.
Special arrangements are also being maintained for girls who come into conflict with the law.
Child Development Centres provide accommodation for an average of 350 girls annually, alongside legal aid, social protection and access to justice.
The government is also maintaining rehabilitation facilities for children with disabilities, including those with speech, hearing and visual impairments and autism.
At present, 33 Integrated Child Rehabilitation Centres are operating in 17 districts, according to the budget document, with separate accommodation and livelihood facilities for boys and girls.
The government’s planned measures cover several interconnected areas, from preventing violence and providing emergency assistance to improving livelihoods and protecting children.
Their effectiveness, however, will depend on how consistently the services reach intended beneficiaries and whether the different programmes work together.