In a significant move to enhance women’s economic participation, the government has proposed a dedicated Tk125 crore fund for women entrepreneurs in the national budget for fiscal year 2025-26. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed announced this initiative during Monday’s budget speech, emphasising its role in improving the business environment for women and strengthening their economic empowerment.
The budget builds on existing women-focused programs, with the National Women Training and Development Academy having already trained 20,000 women through its upazila-level skill development centers. These initiatives have demonstrated measurable success in both women’s empowerment and poverty reduction.
In a groundbreaking policy shift, Salehuddin formally recognised the economic contributions of homemakers, pledging to develop methodologies to quantify and incorporate their unpaid domestic work in future GDP calculations. “While we acknowledge working women’s contributions, we must equally value homemakers’ indispensable role in our society and economy,” he stated.
The budget also addresses social welfare commitments, continuing support for victims of the July Uprising. Rehabilitation programs for injured children remain ongoing, with the government having already provided financial assistance to 84 families who lost children in the incident.
These combined measures – including the new entrepreneur fund, skill development programs, recognition of domestic labor, and victim support – represent a comprehensive approach to addressing gender disparities and creating a more inclusive economic framework in Bangladesh. The Tk125 crore allocation specifically targets the removal of financial barriers that have traditionally limited women’s business opportunities.