KHULNA, March 7, (BSS): Speakers at a programme in Khulna underscored the importance of boosting women's economic empowerment through the informal urban economy to improve their socio-economic conditions and curb gender-based violence.
They noted that many women in Khulna remain outside mainstream economic activities and continue to face various forms of violence and social discrimination.
The remarks came at the inaugural ceremony of the project "Women's Economic Empowerment through Informal Urban Economy," held on Friday at the CSS Ava Centre.
The programme was organised by the development organisation World Vision, a non-government organisation operating in Khulna.
Statistics presented at the event showed that about 81 per cent of women in Khulna experience some form of violence in their lifetime, including physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse, mostly perpetrated by husbands or intimate partners.
The data also indicated that over 2.15 per cent of Khulna city residents live below the lower poverty line, while 10.2 percent live below the upper poverty line.
Among the working-age population, 39.10 per cent of adults are not engaged in income-generating activities, with women accounting for 49.60 per cent of this group.
In the youth segment aged 20 to 24, around 31.82 per cent are neither employed nor in education or training, including 51.92 per cent women. Only 15.10 per cent of adult women participate in the workforce, and 25 per cent of them work in the informal economy, a key sector for women's economic engagement.
Under the newly launched project, 1,160 women from 31 wards of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) will directly benefit, while around 6,000 people are expected to receive indirect benefits.
The project has a budget of US$300,000 and will run for 24 months, from December 2025 to November 2027.
Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate of the Vested Property Cell of Khulna district administration, Umme Salma Khanam, attended the programme as chief guest.
Special guests included BSCIC Deputy Director Khulna Golam Shaklain, Khulna Divisional Women Chamber of Commerce Director Shamima Sultana Shilu, Department of Women Affairs Deputy Director Suraiya Siddika, NGO Rupantar's Executive Director Swapan Guh and Convener of Khulna Press Club Enamul Haque,among others.
Presenting the project overview, World Vision Khulna Area Programme Coordination Office Senior Manager Fuli Sarkar said the initiative aims to build the capacity of disadvantaged and marginalised women to run sustainable and profitable economic activities.
She said the project will provide business management and entrepreneurship training to 1,160 women, while 400 women will receive technical skills training. Additionally, 600 women will receive financial support to expand and improve their businesses.
