The Ministry of Women Affairs is a full-fledged ministry and was established in 1978, to fulfill government commitments toward women development. In the same year, women sector was for the first time included in the development program providing separate allocation for women sector under the Two Year Development Plan (1978-1980). In 1994, Government of Bangladesh reallocated works and responsibilities of the Ministry, which was renamed "Ministry of Women and Children Affairs". Bangladesh is one of the few countries in the world having a separate ministry for women and children.

Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) has three implementing agencies: Department of Women Affairs (DWA), Jatiya Mohila Sangstha (JMS) and Bangladesh Shishu Academy (BSA). Among these, Department of Women Affairs and Jatiya Mohila Sangstha are especially responsible for empowering women.