Senior officials from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs, along with representatives from PKSF and Grameen Bank, met today to discuss microfinance under the direction of adviser Sharmin S. Murshid. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 2, 2025 (BSS) - Social Welfare Affairs Adviser Sharmeen Soneya Murshid today called upon all concerned to implement microfinance programmes under one umbrella to eradicate poverty from the country. 

“Coordination has to be established between all ministries related to microfinance programmes for poverty alleviation,” she said. 

The Adviser made the remarks at a meeting on microfinance held with representatives of PKSF (Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation), Grameen Bank and senior officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs at the meeting room of the ministry today. 

She said that the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, along with the Ministry of Social Welfare, are working on interest-free microfinance programmes for rural areas, urban social service programmes, self-employment of the injured and disabled people and women to improve the quality of life of the poor in the society.

Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, also Adviser of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs said that a new way of thinking should be taken to solve the problem in providing allowances and providing microfinance. 

“To this end, it is necessary to transform every village and urban area of the country into well-organized, sustainable, self-reliant, poverty-free and beggar-free areas by coordinating the microfinance and savings programmes of various ministries under an umbrella by avoiding duality,” she said.

Stating that the Ministry of Social Welfare does not want to create more beggars, she said that it is needed for the successful implementation of integrated microfinance programs. 

 Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Momtaz Ahmed and Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare Dr. Md. Mohiuddin were present at the meeting.