Dr. Zubaida Rahman meets Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka

Dr. Zubaida Rahman meets Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka.

Dhaka, 09 November 2026: Dr. Zubaida Rahman, the Spouse of Bangladesh Prime Minister, met Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in Dhaka earlier this morning. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, MP, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Ms. Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, among others. 

Dr. Rahman warmly welcomed the Duchess to Bangladesh and appreciated her longstanding commitment to women's empowerment, girls' education and the wellbeing of children and young people. She also acknowledged the Duchess's continued engagement with eye health and advocacy for the prevention of avoidable blindness.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on women's economic empowerment, maternal and child healthcare, removing gender based violence, and youth development. Dr Rahman highlighted the Government's commitment to building a healthy Bangladesh, including initiatives to reduce maternal mortality and recruitment of 100,000 health workers to strengthen healthcare services. She also spoke about social safety net programs introduced by the Government, including Family Cards and Farmers' Cards, aimed at extending social and economic support to families and communities. She highlighted the provision of free education for girls and the importance of expanding opportunities for women.

Dr. Rahman further apprised Her Royal Highness of the longstanding work and contributions of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and SUROVI in advancing social welfare and improving the lives of disadvantaged communities. She elaborated on the Ziaur Rahman Foundation's efforts to place women at the centre of development by promoting their economic independence, self-reliance and skills development. She also highlighted SUROVI's work in education, child protection, health, nutrition, WASH, and skills development, with a particular focus on children and women from ultra-poor and marginalised communities. Drawing on the experiences and best practices of these organisations, Dr. Rahman explained how their initiatives had inspired the Government's policy priorities and found reflection in its election manifesto.

In this context, she also referred to initiatives for the support and development of underprivileged children and young people, including the Shishu Swarga Model in urban slum communities, the Blue Sky Programme and the activities of Proyash in promoting the development and wellbeing of children with special needs. She further highlighted the Government's tree plantation initiatives, particularly the 'One Student, One Tree' programme, aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

Her Royal Highness appreciated the Government'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 appreciated the Government's efforts to draw on their experiences in shaping its broader policy agenda. The Duchess also commended the Prime Minister's strong voice and commitment to women's empowerment and his advocacy on violence against women.

Dr. Rahman expressed appreciation for the Duchess's interest in the ongoing Rohingya crisis and called for continued international support for Rohingyas and host communities in Bangladesh also reiterating the importance of their safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar. Her Royal Highness appreciated Bangladesh's generosity and humanitarian commitment in hosting a large Rohingya population over the years and acknowledged the significant responsibility shouldered by the country. She also assured her continued advocacy to keep the Rohingya issue high on the international agenda. 

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on shared priorities and explore avenues for greater cooperation in promoting women's empowerment, improving healthcare and education, and protecting vulnerable communities, Press Release.