Dr Zubaida Rahman, spouse of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is on a two-day official visit to Washington, D.C., from 24–25 March at the invitation of US First Lady Melania Trump to attend the "Fostering the Future Together: Global Coalition Summit".
The high-level gathering, attended by more than 40 First Ladies and spouses of world leaders, serves as a platform for advancing global dialogue on children’s welfare and development.
The summit was formally inaugurated on Tuesday at the US State Department by the First Lady of the United States.
In her address, Dr Rahman emphasised the importance of ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for children, alongside initiatives such as Bangladesh's Family Card and Farmers Card programmes aimed at supporting households.
She also highlighted progress in the country's education and healthcare sectors and called for strengthened global cooperation to build an inclusive and prosperous future.
During a working session, Dr Rahman thanked the US First Lady for convening global leaders around a shared commitment to children’s wellbeing. She noted that a nation’s future is shaped by the care, education and values instilled in its children.
Referring to Bangladesh’s recent political developments, she said the newly elected government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had introduced initiatives to empower families and ensure better opportunities for children. As a medical professional, she reaffirmed her commitment to accessible and quality healthcare, with a focus on prevention from early childhood.
Dr Rahman also underscored the transformative role of technology in education, particularly the responsible use of artificial intelligence to bridge gaps between urban and rural communities.
She highlighted government efforts to equip teachers and students with digital tools, including tablet computers and updated curricula incorporating multimedia content.
On women’s empowerment, she noted Bangladesh’s longstanding progress, citing past initiatives to expand girls’ education and reaffirming the government’s commitment to extending free education for women up to postgraduate level.
She further stressed the importance of partnerships with the private sector and global stakeholders to improve digital safety, teacher training and educational quality. "Together, we can build a generation that is resilient, compassionate and prepared for the future," she said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Dr Rahman visited a technology exhibition featuring 11 leading US firms showcasing innovations in education. She is also scheduled to attend the closing session at the White House on Wednesday, hosted by the US First Lady.
Dr Rahman was accompanied by a delegation including academic Dr Morshed Hasan Khan, senior medical official Dr Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, and entrepreneur Mehnaz Mannan. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Deputy Chief of Mission D. M. Salahuddin Mahmud were also present.
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