Staff Correspondent

Adviser to Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Ministry Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain has said there would be no gender discrimination in new Bangladesh following the July Uprising.

“Women's presence and participation at all levels would be guaranteed,” he said while addressing "Best Self-reliant Women Award 2025", organised by LGED in Dhaka marking International Women's Day 2025 at LGED Bhaban here today.

Asif Mahmud, also adviser to Youth and Sports, said, “It is an established fact that keeping women out of decision-making and power-related processes is an obstacle to the overall development of the nation, where women represent nearly 51 percent of the total population.”

"Just as we achieved the independence through the combined efforts of men and women, we have also created a new victory in 2024 through July uprising with huge participation of women,” he said.

“In the post-July uprising, however, some individuals are attempting to disrupt security of women,” he said.

The adviser urged the law enforces to take strong action against such wrongdoers, and assured that exemplary punishment would be taken against the persons involve with violence against women and children.

He congratulated the women honoured with the Best Self-Reliant Women Award saying they would inspire other women to rise above difficult circumstances.

The adviser also urged the officials concerned to prioritize increasing the number of women in all LGED activities.

Secretary to local government division Md Nizam Uddin also addressed the programme, chaired by LGED Chief Engineer Md Abdur Rashid Mia.