DHAKA, Nov 3, 2023 (BSS) - Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today said that Bangladesh's progress in bringing gender equality and eliminating gender inequality is commendable.

"Bangladesh's progress in bringing gender equality and eliminating gender inequality is commendable," she said, addressing a discussion titled 'Reframing South Asian Economic Cooperation in the New Context of National and Global Dimension' at the 14th South Asian Economic Summit organized by the Center for Policy Dialogue at a city hotel as the chief guest.

Noting that the presence-rate of girl students in primary education has increased to 98 percent, the speaker said consistent growth in every index of the society has been possible because of the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She added Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been providing duty-free facilities on computers and various types of technology products for technical and vocational education, ICT training and construction of hi-tech parks and facilitating freelancing for the youth through digital connectivity.

She said that the region will be formed as a smart hub of information technology through the exchange of technical knowledge among South Asian countries.

With Founder and Executive Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Rehman Sobhan in the chair, the programme was addressed, among others, by Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Pakistan State Bank former governor Ishrat Husain and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka P. Nandalal Weerasinghe as guests of honor.

Planning Minister M A Mannan spoke as special guest on the occasion while CPD Executive Director Dr Fahmida Khatun gave welcome speech.