At the invitation of US First Lady Melania Trump and under the initiative of the White House, Zubaida Rahman, wife of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, highlighted the government’s efforts to bring innovative technologies and healthcare services to children’s doorsteps.
She was delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit” in Washington. The two-day summit was inaugurated on Tuesday by First Lady Melania Trump, a press release said.
Zubaida said, “It is a great honour for me to join all of you at the historic Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit. I sincerely thank the First Lady for bringing us together from across the world for such a noble purpose—our children’s potential and every nation’s commitment to the future.”
She emphasised, “We believe that the future of every country is written in the pages of its children’s lives. The education we provide today and the values we instill in them will shape the nation of tomorrow.”
As a physician, she reaffirmed her deep commitment to ensuring quality healthcare for every child. She stressed not only treatment but also prevention of disease from the earliest stages of life.
Zubaida said that technology, particularly EdTech (educational technology), is playing a central role in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities.
She also pledged to ensure the safe and ethical use of these technologies so that children can grow up in a secure and supportive environment.
She also highlighted Bangladesh’s strong legacy in women empowerment. She recalled that former prime minister Khaleda Zia upheld human rights and introduced free education for girls up to the 12th grade.
The current government is committed to extending free education for women up to the postgraduate level, she added.
