DHAKA, Feb 24, 2022 (BSS) - Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun today said the government is working to ensure gender equality in all sectors for developing the country.

   "We have today listened to an extremely esoteric presentation on gender equality. And it reiterates the importance of gender equity for the progress of a nation. Gender equality is a basic human right and our government realizes that we cannot prosper without achieving equality for all. We are very keen on ensuring gender equality in all sectors," he said.

   The minister said this while speaking as the special guest at the "Gender Equality in the Workplace and the Impact of Covid-19", organized by Office of International Affairs (OIA), at University of Asia Pacific (UAP) in the city, said a press release.

   Malaysian Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Majah Zuraida Binti Kamaruddin delivered the key note speech on the occasion.

  In his speech, Humayun said for the past 50 years, Malaysia and Bangladesh have had very close bilateral relations. "Malaysia was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign nation in 1971. In recent years our government has extended this relationship further by promoting bilateral trade growth between our two countries," he added.

   The minister hoped that the relationship will strengthen further in the future with greater collaboration.

   He said Bangladesh has attracted many Malaysian investors in the recent past and the government is doing its best to ensure a conducive business environment to encourage more such ventures.

   "We have been fruitfully established 100 Economic Zones, 74 BSCIC Industrial Parks to inhance local and froeign invertors," he mentioned.

   He hoped that Malaysia will be pleased to support to fulfil our target to be a developed country by the year of 2041.

   Datuk Majah Zuraida Binti Kamaruddin said gender equality took a special turn during the Covid-19 pandemic, but it did not adversely affect women's empowerment.

   She sought the cooperation of people from all walks of life to ensure the empowerment of women.

   She said Malaysia has already taken special steps to ensure women's rights.

   Former Chairman of the UAP Trustee Board Kyum Reza Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

   Among others, High Commissioner of Malaysia in Dhaka Haznah Md Hasim and UAP Trustee Board Chairman Dr M Alauddin and Member KM Mojibul Haque spoke on the occasion.