State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan emphasized the importance of effectively implementing gender budgets for the development of a smart Bangladesh. Speaking at a workshop on Gender Budget Report 2024–25 Preparation held at the Finance Division in the capital, she highlighted the significance of eliminating discrimination through the formulation and implementation of gender budgets.

Minister Khan stressed that women's empowerment is crucial for sustainable development, and the government led by the Awami League is prioritizing women's empowerment. She expressed hope that the gender budget would contribute significantly to advancing women in workplaces and economically backward areas.

Referring to the allocations made by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the 1972 budget for the development of women, Minister Khan emphasized Bangabandhu's vision for the financial advancement of the country through women's development.

The workshop, chaired by Secretary Finance Division Dr. Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, had Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nazma Mobarek as a special guest. Mohammad Saiful Islam, Additional Secretary, Budget-1, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, and National Program Director of Strengthening Public Financial Management Program to Enable Service Delivery (SPFMS), delivered a welcome address.

During the workshop, a presentation on the Gender Budget Report 2024–25 was given by Mahedi Masuduzzaman, Joint Secretary Finance Division. The presentation identified five thematic areas with gender relevance, including women’s empowerment and social status enhancement, economic participation and equality, increased women’s effective access to public services, and education, health, and well-being for women’s development. It also highlighted challenges faced by women in Bangladesh, such as labor force participation, income disparity, workplace challenges, reproductive health rights, nutritional issues, early marriages, and harassment.