Prime Minister's spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman and Britain's Duchess of Edinburgh today discussed strengthening cooperation on women's empowerment, maternal and child healthcare, education and the Rohingya crisis, with particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable communities.

The discussions took place during a meeting between Dr Zubaida Rahman and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka this morning, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.

Zubaida Rahman warmly welcomed the Duchess to Bangladesh and appreciated her longstanding commitment to women's empowerment, girls' education and the welfare of children and young people.

She also acknowledged the Duchess's continued engagement in promoting eye health and preventing avoidable blindness.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on women's economic empowerment, maternal and child healthcare, combating gender-based violence and expanding opportunities for young people.

Highlighting the government's commitment to building a healthy Bangladesh, Zubaida Rahman outlined initiatives aimed at reducing maternal mortality and strengthening healthcare services through the recruitment of 100,000 health workers.

She also briefed the Duchess on the government's social safety net initiatives, including Family Cards and Farmers' Cards, designed to extend financial and social support to families and communities.

She also underscored the importance of free education for girls and expanding opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in the country's socioeconomic development.

She also highlighted the longstanding contributions of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and SUROVI to improving the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised communities.

Elaborating on the foundation's activities, Zubaida Rahman said its initiatives had focused on placing women at the centre of development by promoting economic independence, self-reliance and skills development.

She explained how the experiences and best practices of these organisations had helped shape the government's development priorities and were reflected in its election manifesto.

She also highlighted SUROVI's work in education, child protection, healthcare, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and skills development, particularly for children and women from ultra-poor communities.

Referring to initiatives for disadvantaged children and young people, she mentioned the Shishu Swarga Model in urban slum communities, the Blue Sky Programme and the activities of Proyash in supporting children with special needs.

She further briefed the Duchess on the government's environmental initiatives, particularly the "One Student, One Tree" programme, aimed at promoting environmental awareness among young people.

The Duchess appreciated Bangladesh's initiatives in healthcare, education, women's empowerment and the welfare of underprivileged children.

She particularly commended the contributions of SUROVI and the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and welcomed the government's efforts to incorporate their experiences into its broader development agenda.

Her Royal Highness also appreciated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's commitment to women's empowerment and his advocacy against violence targeting women.

The meeting also focused on the protracted Rohingya crisis, with Zubaida Rahman calling for sustained international humanitarian assistance for Rohingyas and their host communities in Bangladesh.

She reiterated the importance of ensuring the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.

The Duchess acknowledged Bangladesh's generosity and humanitarian commitment in hosting a large Rohingya population over the years, recognising the considerable responsibility shouldered by the country.

She assured her continued advocacy to keep the Rohingya issue high on the international agenda.

Both sides exchanged perspectives on shared priorities and explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in women's empowerment, healthcare, education and the protection of vulnerable communities.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's Adviser and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office Mahdi Amin, and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, among others, attended the meeting.