Dhaka, Aug. 22 -- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said that women at the grassroots level must be empowered and given greater opportunities for direct political participation so that they can prepare themselves for future national leadership.

"Development is not possible while leaving behind 50 percent of the country's population; therefore, political parties must change their mindset and policies to ensure women's participation at the grassroots level," she said at the CGS dialogue titled "Strengthening Young Women's Political Leadership in Bangladesh" at a city hotel on Saturday.

The state minister said education strengthens women's decision-making capacity, but they still face numerous barriers in politics and so...