Govt opens spl mkt in city to sell women-made items

Talha Bin Habib The government will launch a specialised market tomorrow (Wednesday) in the capital to ensure fair prices of products, made by rural women, officials said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the market at Rapa Plaza at Dhanmondi through video conference from Ruposhi Bangla Hotel at 10 am. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will deliver the address of welcome at the programme. "The market will facilitate the women of grassroots-level to sell their various items, such as handicrafts and handloom products, directly to the customers. It will also curtail middlemen's influence and ensure fair prices of the products for the women entrepreneurs," Dr Sharmin told the FE recently. She said her ministry will provide necessary training and other logistic supports to the rural women, so that they get interested to produce and sell more products and become financially self-reliant. The market is being launched as a part of a project titled 'Nari Uddokta Unnayan Proyash' (Women Entrepreneurship Development Initiative) under the Women Affairs Department. The women involved with different organisations under the department have been producing different attractive products, but they are not getting due prices for the products due to absence of direct marketing network. About 180 shops will be distributed among 140 cooperative societies at the specialised market, according to the ministry officials.