"The planning and finance minister claimed that due attention has been given to formulate a gender sensitive budget, but he has not clearly mentioned how many women will be enrolled or empowered and what percentage of maternal mortality rate will be reduced in this fiscal year", Dr Atiur Rahman said.

Dr Rahman also said South Africa is currently presenting gender sensitive budget, while India has added the 'Gender Statement', but, in Bangladesh the budget does not even provide separate data on the basis of gender.

The seminar styled "Efficiency in Spending the Allocation for the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA)' was held at the National Press Club in the city.

Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangha (BNPS) and Institute for Environment and Development (IED) jointly organised the seminar where researcher Dr Protima Paul Mojumdar presented her research findings. Rokeya Kabir presided over the programme.

Dr Paul showed why the allocation remains unused in the MOWCA and observed that women empowerment is not only dependent on budgetary allocation, but also on the merit of spending.

According to Dr Paul, dependency on foreign aid, want of skilled human resources and leadership, and the dissimilarities between objectives of national policy and the objectives of projects adopted in MOWCA are among the causes that hinder a wise spending of budget allocation.

She laid emphasis on thinking of projects like women entrepreneur development project or urban area based women development project.

Dr Mahmuda Islam, president of Women for Women, said the concerned officials should have been trained first so that they can properly use the allocation.

Former secretary and economist Dr Moshiur Rahman, economist SA samad, Prof Jahanara Haque, Prof Momtaj Latif, Dr Hannana Begum, Selina Khaleque, Tapati Saha and Dr Anwara Begum spoke on the occasion.