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Bangladesh and ADB Explore Stronger Partnership on Gender Equality and Social Protection
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October 5, 2026: A high-level meeting was held at the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to explore stronger cooperation between Bangladesh’s Ministry of Social Welfare (MoSW) and the ADB on gender equality, social inclusion and social protection.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin, MP, and Additional Secretary Nargis Khanam. They were joined by Nasheeba Selim, Principal Social Development Officer (Gender) at ADB Bangladesh. Representing ADB headquarters were Keiko Nowacka, Director of the Gender Equality Division (CCSD); Ketevan Chkheidze, Gender Specialist and South Asia Regional Gender Focal; and Tahrima T. Ahmed, Social Development Officer (Gender).
The discussions identified three major areas for potential strategic collaboration.
The first was the government’s Family Card initiative, which the State Minister highlighted as a gender-responsive social protection program. Discussions focused on the possibility of ADB technical assistance to strengthen the program’s gender-sensitive design, implementation and targeting.
The second area was the professionalization of the care sector. With Bangladesh facing a rapidly aging population and growing demand for care services, the two sides discussed developing a skilled caregiving workforce. Such efforts could not only address domestic care needs but also create opportunities for trained Bangladeshi caregivers to secure employment in international markets.
The third area involved strengthening support for marginalized and vulnerable communities. Particular attention was given to older women, people living in geographically vulnerable areas such as chars, and workers and families in tea-garden communities. The objective is to ensure that social protection and development initiatives reach groups that face persistent economic and social disadvantages.
Following the gender-focused meeting, the MoSW delegation met with Ayako Inagaki, Deputy Director General of ADB’s Sectors Department, to discuss Bangladesh’s evolving social protection priorities.
The State Minister expressed appreciation for ADB’s continued role as a development partner and emphasized the need for expanded support to address emerging demographic challenges, particularly population aging and long-term care.
She also briefed ADB officials on the government’s Family Card programme, which is based on a household-centered approach and identifies mothers or female heads of households as the primary beneficiaries. The initiative combines direct financial support with subsidized essential commodities and is envisioned eventually as a broader platform through which households can access a range of social protection services.
The government is currently expanding the Family Card programme nationwide, with a target of reaching 4.1 million households within the coming year. Against this backdrop, the State Minister highlighted potential areas where ADB could provide support, including improving the coverage, targeting and responsiveness of Bangladesh’s social protection system.
Particular emphasis was placed on the needs of older people and households with caregiving responsibilities, which are expected to become increasingly important as the country’s demographic profile changes.
The State Minister also referred to the forthcoming joint ADB publication, The Long-Term Care Diagnostic for the Elderly Population, which is expected to provide practical recommendations for responding to Bangladesh’s growing demand for elderly care services.
Looking ahead, she stressed the importance of country-level, targeted assistance through the ADB Bangladesh Resident Mission to maintain regular policy dialogue with the Ministry of Social Welfare and translate research and analytical findings into practical initiatives.
Closer cooperation, she noted, could help bridge the gap between research and implementation by bringing together social protection, long-term care and workforce development. It could also create opportunities to pilot and scale programs designed specifically for Bangladesh’s changing demographic and social needs.
The meeting underscored the potential for an expanded Bangladesh-ADB partnership focused on building a more gender-responsive, inclusive and sustainable social protection system while preparing the country for the growing challenges associated with population aging and care.
Photo: Rita Bhowmick
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Source: Pressenza