Investing in women key to growth, say political leaders

Speakers at a conference on women's political leadership from three major political parties in Bangladesh emphasised economic empowerment for women's advancement.
They said that investing in women is crucial to accelerate the country's growth.
Democracy International organised the conference on Sunday, marking International Women's Day. The conference was attended by 100 women leaders from the three main political parties: Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party.
Dr Md Abdul Alim, Democracy International's principal director (Elections and Political Process), was present at the event.
Democracy International, supported by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is implementing the Bangladesh Strengthening Political Accountability for Citizen Empowerment (B-SPACE) project.
Panel discussions involving participants from political parties, civil society and the media produced proposals for strategic plans to promote gender equality and increase women's participation in politics.
Participants in the panel discussions included Salim Mahmud MP, Research and Information Affairs Secretary of the Awami League's Central Executive Committee; Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's National Executive Committee; Ahsan Adelur Rahman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Jatiya Party; Aroma Dutta MP, Executive Director of PRIPTrust; and Sharmin Murshid, Executive Director of Broti Samaj Kalyan Sanstha.

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