The Women Entrepreneurs Association (WEA) has launched a countrywide programme to train women on different vocations and businesses for their empowerment.

As part of it, the WEA began a 11-day training programme at Garpara in Manikganj on Monday in cooperation with the Thengamora Mohila Sabuj Songha (TMSS), a local NGO.

WEA President and former advisor of the caretaker government Rokia A Rahman inaugurated the programme at Garpara Union Parishad Auditorium.

The programme code-named Women's Empowerment and Advancement by Learning and Training of Herself (Wealth) is cosponsored by the Fair and Lovely Foundation and Lever Brothers, Bangladesh.

It 11-day training includes five days' theoretical classes and six days' practical training on mini garments and tailoring, food processing, pickle making, confectionery, horticulture and nursery management, fishery, handicrafts and poultry farming.

A total of 30 educated women, most of them housewives, are taking part in the training.

WEA representatives Rubina Faruque, Khadija Afzal, Rokeya Rahman Bachehu, Rebeka Abedin, Rawsan Ara Mahmud, Nilufar Rahman, Garpora Union Parishad Chairman Nasirul Haque Khan Potol and TMSS representative Abdus Salam attended the inaugural function, among others.

Trainee Selina Akter Sheuly also addressed spoke at the function conducted by WEA official Farhana Akter.

Rokia Rahman urged the participants to come forward to learn different vocations and businesses for their empowerment and development of the country.

Islam does not bar woman from participating in business and improving their financial condition. Rather, the region encourages poverty alleviation, she said.

Islam prefers business than any other profession.

After Manikganj, WEA will organise such programmes in 10 other districts including Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Sylhet, Jessore, Khulna, Bogra and Joypurhat.

The programme will conclude in Joypurhat with a function on December 15.

The first training session was held is Dhaka from June 20 to 30.