Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman said on Friday that leaving women out of national development is “a mistake,” noting that women make up roughly half the country’s population and must be equipped with skills to drive progress.
Speaking at the reunion of Joypurhat Girls’ Cadet College, Gen Waker-uz-Zaman stressed that empowering women is integral to Bangladesh’s growth agenda. “For the country’s development, women must be developed with the right skills,” he said.
Addressing former cadets, the army chief urged them to lead with character and service. “Be good human beings first,” he said. “Work for the nation with ethics and integrity.”
The event was attended by former cadets, Deputy Commissioner Afroza Akter Chowdhury, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Abdul Wahab, faculty members and local journalists. Organisers said the reunion highlighted the college’s role in nurturing disciplined, civic-minded graduates—and underscored a broader call to ensure women’s full and equal participation in Bangladesh’s future.