Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Rtd.) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Monday said true empowerment of women requires their active involvement in both training and policy-making.
He acknowledged women’s crucial contribution to Bangladesh’s economy, particularly in the readymade garments sector, and called for enhanced language and technical training to expand opportunities for women seeking overseas employment.
The Adviser came up with this view while inaugurating the two day HERizon Fest 2025, a national celebration of women’s empowerment through skills and employment, began at a city hotel in Dhaka.
The event is organized by the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) with the technical assistance of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Special Envoy on International Affairs to the Chief Adviser (Adviser Status) Lutfey Siddiqi said women are not only participants but drivers of Bangladesh’s development.
He urged the government, private sector, and development partners to collaborate with NSDA to create flexible learning environments and remove barriers that hinder women’s skill development.
The opening day of HERizon Fest focused on celebrating women’s empowerment through skills and employment, emphasizing inclusive and gender-responsive approaches to national skills development.
Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office M. Saifullah Panna highlighted NSDA’s vital role in strengthening the national workforce.
He noted that women—comprising half of the country’s labor force—play a decisive role in driving GDP growth, remittances, and overall economic progress.
Additional Secretary of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division Shoaib Ahmad Khan stressed the need for women-centric technical education and industry-ready training.
He observed that many women remain confined to informal work due to household responsibilities and social constraints and called for public-private partnerships to expand opportunities for women in the formal economy.
Guest of Honour Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting women’s empowerment and gender equality, emphasizing that women’s participation in the labor market is a key pillar of sustainable development.
The inaugural session was chaired by Executive Chairman (Secretary) of NSDA Dr Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury.
She said that under the National Skills Development Policy 2022, NSDA is committed to promoting inclusive, market-oriented skills development for women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups. She noted that the festival aims to design demand-driven training programs, foster safe and dignified workplaces, and enhance women’s participation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, green industries, the care economy, and creative industries.
She added that international experts, development partners, and technical sessions during the two-day event will contribute to shaping new policy directions for inclusive skills development and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh.
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The opening day also featured interactive workshops on gender-responsive training, private sector engagement, and equitable access for disadvantaged groups. Over 450 participants attended, including representatives from the Chief Adviser’s Office, ministries, development partners, academia, industry skill councils, civil society, women’s networks, youth groups, and the media.
International experts from Nepal, the USA, Austria, Germany, and UNICEF shared global perspectives on inclusive vocational education and future skills for women, providing guidance for NSDA’s strategy to expand labor market participation for young, disadvantaged, and vulnerable women.