US Embassy launches education program for women and girls in Bangladesh

The US Embassy in Dhaka and the Education and Cultural Society (ECS) have launched an education program in Bangladesh to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in fields related to science and technology.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller, along with distinguished Bangladeshi scientists and educators, inaugurated the embassy-funded “Strengthening US-Bangladesh Sustainable Relationship by Developing Student-centered STEM Education” project at the Brac Inn on Tuesday, said a media statement.  

At the event, Ambassador Miller recognized the contributions of women in different sectors in Bangladesh and around the world.

He also highlighted the importance of encouraging and supporting women and girls to pursue education and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

The two-year long program will provide training to over 800 female STEM instructors from eight divisions of the country on how to mentor women, girls, and other minority community members about STEM careers and teach more effectively.

The program will encourage female participation in STEM fields by targeting outreach to university-age students, organizing nationwide STEM competitions, job fairs and career counselling.

Former president of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences Prof Shamsher Ali, ECS Executive Director Kazi Nasrin Siddiqa and Michelle Adelman, an America entrepreneur based in Botswana, also spoke on the occasion.