Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muqtadir today said the government is continuing its efforts to empower women economically by expanding livelihood opportunities and technical education to ensure sustainable family development.

“Women must become self-reliant to strengthen the economic foundation of families and contribute to the country's overall development,” the minister said while speaking as the chief guest at a programme in Sylhet Sadar Upazila Auditorium.

The programme was organised under the Prime Minister's Office's "Living Standards Improvement Programme for Small Ethnic Communities" for the 2025-26 fiscal year, where bicycles, sewing machines and educational scholarships were distributed among beneficiaries.

The minister said the government has taken various initiatives to enhance women's economic participation and ensure their effective role in family decision-making alongside men.

He announced that women would be provided training in aquaponics-based fish and vegetable cultivation in their homesteads, adding that government incentives would also be extended after completion of the training to help them start production.

Highlighting the importance of skills development, Muktadir said the government is placing special emphasis on technical and vocational education alongside general education.

 As part of this effort, he said, initiatives are underway to introduce compulsory technical education in selected subjects at the SSC and HSC levels.

He also pledged to establish a Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Sylhet Sadar to expand training opportunities in computer operation, driving and other technical skills for local students.

The minister stressed the need to accelerate canal excavation to ensure irrigation during the dry season, saying no cultivable land should remain fallow if the country is to maintain food self-sufficiency.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun chaired the programme.

Among others, Sylhet Zila Parishad Administrator Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, Sylhet District BNP Joint General Secretary Siddiqur Rahman Paplu and Sylhet Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khoshnur Rubaiyat addressed the function as special guests.

Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated a free medical camp at Lakkatura Tea Estate in Sylhet city. 

Later in the afternoon, he attended the inauguration of the Ulto Rath Yatra ( return chariot procession) as the chief guest.