Photo: PID

DHAKA, July 28, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain today urged the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to expand its activities beyond the southern region and extend its operations across Bangladesh.

He made the call during a meeting with IRC Deputy Regional Director (Asia) Hasina Rahman at his office at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a press release.

"The government is firmly committed to implementing the pledges concerning women and children made in its election manifesto," the minister said, adding that various initiatives have already been taken to achieve the goal and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is regularly monitoring their progress.

The meeting discussed technical cooperation and experience sharing on social safety-net programmes, prevention of child marriage and violence against women and children, emergency health services, climate change impacts, pre-disaster preparedness and disaster-risk reduction training and women's economic empowerment.

Dr Zahid thanked the IRC for its longstanding support for Bangladesh's development, including its assistance during the Liberation War.

He also urged the IRC to support training programmes aimed at increasing women's participation in the care economy. 

Hasina Rahman expressed a positive response to the proposal, said the press release.

The IRC deputy regional director praised the government's initiatives in social protection and expressed the organisation's readiness to provide technical expertise and share its experience, if required, for training on issues concerning women and children.