Bangladesh Mahila Samity  known before 1972 as the All Pakistan Women's Association (East Pakistan Branch), was founded in 1949. It was a government sponsored organisation of women from the middle class families with the objective of initiating voluntary social welfare activities. It was given its current name in 1972. Women of middle income group families as well as of different professions and political and social organisations have now got involved in its management and activities. The head office of the samity is at New Baily Road, dhaka. It has branch offices in mymensingh, chittagong, tangail, rangpur, faridpur and nilphamari. A non-profit social welfare organisation, it promotes development of women in general and poor women in particular. It provides technical and other support in areas like health, education, culture, legal aid, and income generating activities.

The association is affiliated to Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) and the International Alliance of Women (IAW). The aims and objectives of the association include women's emancipation in a traditionally male dominated society; women's welfare; raising consciousness of women about their legal and social rights; providing assistance to women in resolving their social, cultural, economic and health problems; establishment and management of schools, health centres, cottage industries, training centres and child care centres for children of working women; setting up libraries for women and girls; developing opportunities for income generating activities of poor women; creation of avenues for marketing their products; and establishment of fair-price and/or ration shops and residential houses for needy women. The association publishes books and magazines on matters relating to the interest of women and children and holds seminars, workshops and conferences for the cause of women's advancement. It also promotes establishment of trusts and foundations for the welfare of women and children.

The association maintains two free primary schools: a girls' high school and a boys' orphanage. Moreover, it implements two informal adult education programmes. It runs spoken English courses for the women and an open-air school for primary age children. It has a number of family planning and health centres in and outside Dhaka. In collaboration with Dhaka Community Hospital, it provides regular free health check-ups for three schools. The association conducts training programmes in secretarial practices, tailoring, knitting etc., as well as in family planning, nutrition, adult education and community leadership. Activities of the association, however, are concentrated in very limited areas of the two big cities and deserve improvement in terms of geographical coverage and the types of services provided to the intended beneficiary groups. [S M Mahfuzur Rahman]