City Bank, UNFPA sign deal to empower women in healthcare

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has signed a partnership agreement with City Bank PLC under the Komlaphul Pharmacy Initiative to train young women as pharmacy associates across Bangladesh.

Catherine Breen Kamkong, UNFPA representative in Bangladesh, and Mashrur Arefin, managing director and CEO of City Bank PLC, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Dhaka today, according to a press release.

Kamkong said the partnership with City Bank was a powerful example of how the private sector can play a transformative role in empowering women while expanding access to essential sexual and reproductive health services.

"By investing in young women as pharmacy associates, we are investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more equitable society in Bangladesh," she added.

Arefin noted that financial inclusion must go hand in hand with social inclusion.

"This initiative with UNFPA is not just about training young women for jobs, but about creating pathways to dignity, independence, and leadership in their communities."

"By supporting women to become pharmacy associates, we are enabling them to transform both their own lives and the lives of countless others through improved access to healthcare and trusted counselling," he said.

"This aligns with our vision of building a more inclusive and sustainable Bangladesh," he added.

This is the first collaboration between UNFPA and City Bank, marking a milestone in advancing women's empowerment and improving access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in underserved communities.

The initiative builds on UNFPA's successful pilot Komlaphul Pharmacy intervention with relevant directorates of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The pilot demonstrated that female pharmacists and associates are more trusted by women and girls, provide better counselling on SRH issues, and help expand access to essential services.

Building on that success, City Bank is scaling up the project to create employment for women, foster inclusivity, reach marginalised populations, and ensure lasting community impact through improved access to SRH services.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, additional managing director and chief financial officer of City Bank; Mahia Juned, additional managing director and chief operating officer; Shahriar Jamil Khan, head of brand and marketing; Vibhavendra Singh Raghuvanshi, chief of health at UNFPA; Gulalek Soltanova, communications specialist; and Md Azmal Hossain, programme analyst (urban health), along with other senior officials from both organisations, were also present.