In a bid to safeguard and empower women and girls amid compounding global adversities, the Prime Minister's Adviser for the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, has urged UN Women to bolster its partnership with Bangladesh.

The call for intensified cooperation comes as the nation navigates a complex matrix of global conflicts, economic instability, energy insecurity, and disrupted supply chains.

The adviser made the appeal during a high-profile meeting on Wednesday with UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda.

Highlighting the country's immense humanitarian burden, Titumir noted that Bangladesh continues to host more than 1.2 million Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds placing significant economic, environmental and security pressures on the country.

According to an official message received on Thursday, he pressed for enhanced engagement from UN Women to facilitate the early repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar, emphasizing the necessity to help ensure that, upon their return, women and girls can live in safety and dignity, enjoy their rights and access sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Delving into macroeconomic challenges, the adviser pointed out that the multidimensional impacts of the ongoing global crises have significantly constrained Bangladesh's fiscal space, while stricter lending conditions imposed by international financial institutions have limited access to grants and concessional financing.

Given these financial headwinds, he underscored the need for expanded UN Women support to strengthen the protection and empowerment of women and girls and reinforce inclusive social protection programmes.

Titumir also shed light on the Bangladesh government's women-centred development agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

He detailed several landmark initiatives, including the groundbreaking Family Card issued in the name of the female head of household, free education for girls up to the postgraduate level, broadened reproductive and mental health services, and the planned universal life-cycle-based social protection system.

In response, Gumbonzvanda commended Bangladesh's progress in advancing gender equality and described the Family Card initiative as an innovative women-centred social protection programme.

Recalling her personal visit to the refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar, she praised Bangladesh's humanitarian commitment and reaffirmed UN Women's continued partnership in promoting gender equality, women's economic empowerment, social protection, the Women, Peace and Security agenda and efforts to address the Rohingya crisis.