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Norwegian ambassador meets social welfare minister
Published : Tuesday, 8 September, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Observer online report
Norwegian Ambassador Haakon Arald Gulbrandsen paid a courtesy call on Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain at his office in Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed the Family Card programme, women’s education, gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and increasing women’s participation in workplaces, politics and decision-making.
They also discussed preventing violence against women and children, establishing specialised schools for children with special needs, the readymade garment sector, caregiving, climate change, carbon trading, inheritance law, and modernising and strengthening DNA laboratory activities.
Minister Zahid described Norway as a reliable and friendly development partner of Bangladesh and expressed gratitude for its development assistance and support since the country’s independence. He hoped Norway would continue providing development and technical assistance in the future.
The minister said the government was working to build an inclusive and humane Bangladesh by involving people from all sections of society, including women and children.
He said training centres at the upazila level were providing women at the grassroots with training in various trades, along with employment opportunities and seed money. The government was also expanding daycare facilities nationwide to ease the difficulties faced by working mothers, he added.
The Norwegian ambassador shared his positive experience of serving in Bangladesh over the past two years. He praised the country’s continued progress in women’s education and economic empowerment and highlighted the contribution of Bangladeshi women to the readymade garment industry.
Gulbrandsen also referred to the climate vulnerability of Bangladesh’s southern region and urged the government to further strengthen its ongoing welfare initiatives to protect women and children there.
Asked about the Family Card, the minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was providing the cards in women’s names, prioritising women’s rights in line with his election pledge. One card would be provided for every five-member family, he said.
He described the Family Card as a sustainable social investment rather than a government expense, saying women could use the money for nutritious food, essential goods, children’s education, medical expenses, small businesses and savings.
The minister also said there was high global demand for skilled caregivers and that Bangladesh wanted to train caregivers to international standards and create overseas employment opportunities for them. He sought Norway’s support in this regard.
He also sought assistance in exporting traditional handicrafts made by rural Bangladeshi women to Norway and other European markets.
When the minister sought Norwegian technical assistance to modernise DNA laboratories, the ambassador expressed a positive response.
Women and Children Affairs Secretary Dr Rowshan Ara Begum was present during the meeting.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
