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KHULNA, March 7, 2026 (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 yesterday at the CSS Ava Centre.
The programme was organized by the development organization World Vision, a non-government organization operating in Khulna.
Statistics presented at the event showed that about 81 percent 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 percent 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 percent of adults are not engaged in income-generating activities, with women accounting for 49.60 percent of this group.
In the youth segment aged 20 to 24, around 31.82 percent are neither employed nor in education or training, including 51.92 percent women. Only 15.10 percent of adult women participate in the workforce, and 25 percent 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 Deputy Director of BSCIC Khulna Golam Shaklain, Director of Khulna Divisional Women Chamber of Commerce Shamima Sultana Shilu, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Suraiya Siddika, Executive Director of Rupantar Swapan Guh and Convener of Khulna Press Club Enamul Haque,among others.
Presenting the project overview, Senior Manager of World Vision Khulna Area Programme Coordination Office, Fuli Sarkar, said the initiative aims to build the capacity of disadvantaged and marginalized 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.
Chief guest Umme Salma Khanam said women's empowerment should go beyond financial gains to include building confidence and independence. She stressed collective efforts to support women entrepreneurs and improve livelihoods in poor communities.
She also highlighted that women engaged in professional and economic activities often face high mental pressure, and their mental health and wellbeing should be prioritized, including access to counselling or medical support when needed.
