The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (; nɑˈri ō śiśu biṣaẏaka mantraṇālaẏa) is a government ministry of Bangladesh responsible for the formulation of policies that promotes the institutionalization and development of women and children.
Feminist Roushan Jahan wrote in 1995 that the government's "lack of priority accorded to women is reflected in the allocation to the Ministry of Women's Affairs, only 0.3 percent of the total budget".
In December 2025, the interim government of Bangladesh announced a change to the Bengali name of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, shifting it from Mahila O Shishu Bishoyok Montronaloy to Nari O Shishu Bishoyok Montronaloy.
Under this ministry, the Directorate of Women Affairs, National Women's Organization, Joyeeta Foundation, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and the DNA Laboratory Management Directorate, which are responsible for development of women and children as well as overseeing women's empowerment, equality, protection and protection of rights.
Ministers
Died in office
PortraitMinisterTerm of officePolitical party MinistryPrime Minister From To Period Tariqul Islam(State Minister, M/C until 19 Sep 1991) 20 March 1991 14 August 1993 Bangladesh Nationalist Party Khaleda I Khaleda Zia Sarwari Rahman(State Minister, M/C) 14 August 1993 19 March 1996 19 March 1996 30 March 1996 Khaleda II Najma Chowdhury(Adviser) 31 March 1996 23 June 1996 Independent Habibur Habibur Rahman Mozammel Hossain(State Minister, M/C) 23 June 1996 24 December 1998 Awami League Hasina I Sheikh Hasina Zinnatunnessa Talukdar(State Minister, M/C) 24 December 1998 15 July 2001 Rokia Afzal Rahman(Adviser) 15 July 2001 10 October 2001 Independent Latifur Latifur Rahman Khurshid Jahan 11 October 2001 14 June 2006 Bangladesh Nationalist Party Khaleda III Khaleda Zia Alamgir Kabir(State Minister, M/C) 14 June 2006 29 October 2006 Yasmeen Murshed(Adviser) 26 October 2006 11 January 2007 Independent Iajuddin Iajuddin Ahmed Geetiara Safya Chowdhury(Adviser) 12 January 2007 8 January 2008 Fakhruddin Fakhruddin Ahmed Rasheda K Chowdhury(Adviser) 9 January 2008 6 January 2009 Sheikh Hasina(Prime Minister) 6 January 2009 31 July 2009 Awami League Hasina II Sheikh Hasina Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury(State Minister, M/C) 31 July 2009 30 April 2013 Sheikh Hasina(Prime Minister) 30 April 2013 2 June 2013 Meher Afroz Chumki(State Minister, M/C) 2 June 2013 21 November 2013 Salma Islam(State Minister, M/C) 21 November 2013 12 January 2014 Jatiya Party (Ershad) Meher Afroz Chumki(State Minister, M/C) 12 January 2014 7 January 2019 Awami League Hasina III Sheikh Hasina(Prime Minister) 7 January 2019 11 January 2024 Hasina IV Simeen Hussain Rimi(State Minister, M/C) 11 January 2024 6 August 2024 Hasina V Muhammad Yunus(Chief Adviser) 9 August 2024 22 August 2024 Independent Yunus Muhammad Yunus Sharmeen Murshid(Adviser) 22 August 2024 17 February 2026 A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain 17 February 2026 Incumbent Bangladesh Nationalist Party Tarique Tarique Rahman
Directorates Department of Women Affairs Jatiya Mohila Songstha Bangladesh Shishu Academy Joyeeta Foundation Directorate of DNA Laboratory Management
References