Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (Mar 8) called upon the country’s women to be more qualified through education and training to attain their own rights.
“Right has to be achieved and quality is needed to attain it. And this quality would come through education and training,” she said.
The premier made this call while addressing a ceremony as the chief guest, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organized the function at Bangladesh Shishu Academy Auditorium to mark the International Women’s Day-2021, local media reported.
Sheikh Hasina told the women that no right is realized through shouting and delivering address rather it comes on the basis of skillfulness.
Referring to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s move to make primary education free and compulsory for women, she said her government is now providing scholarships up to higher education where over 70 percent beneficiaries are female students.
The premier said, “Both male and female are needed to be educated to build the society.”
Noting that women would have to play contribution to any achievement, she said men and women have to work in combine to forward the society ahead.
Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh has attained the acknowledgement of a developing nation and on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence, our desire is that both men and women will keep continuing this progress.”
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day-2021, five successful women were given best Joyeeta awards with crests and money.
They are Hasina Begum Nila, Miftahul Jannat, Mosammat Helennesa Begum, Robijan and Anjana Bala Bishwas.
On behalf of the PM, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira handed over the awards to the recipients.
With Fazilatun Nessa Indira in the chair, UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Mia Seppo also spoke as the special guest.
Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md. Sayedul Islam delivered welcome address while Hasina Begum Nila also spoke on behalf of the Joyeeta Women.
At the outset of the ceremony, an inauguration song and a documentary on Liberation War, Mujib Barsho and women development were screened.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Women in leadership, achieving an equal future in Covid-19 world”.
Sheikh Hasina said after assuming power in 1996 they saw that there was no women justice in the higher court, no women secretary in administration and no facilities in many places for women in the country.
But, the Awami League government took initiatives gradually to post women in those positions as Bangabandhu had paved the way by changing the law immediately after independence of the country that barred women from participating in judicial service examination to get jobs in the Pakistan era, she said.
She went on saying now women in Bangladesh have got the opportunities to serve the high court, appellate division, army, navy, air force, border guards, RAB, local government and everywhere.
The head of government continued when the local government law was framed, the government has kept provision so that one-third of women could come in leadership in local government bodies and play a role in the development of society.
“Awami League government assuming power has opened the opportunities for women in every sphere of society which is also an outcome of the thinking of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she added.
Sheikh Hasina also briefly highlighted different initiatives taken by her government for the country’s women such as domestic violence (prevention and protection) act 2010, national women development policy 2011, national action plan in women development-2013-2025, women and child repression protection act-2000, extension of maternity leave to six months, writing mother’s name compulsory alongside father of their children, providing hostel facilities for working women and daycare centre for the children of working women etc.
She urged the country’s women to engage themselves in income generating activities instead of sitting idle at home.
In this connection, she referred to the Amar Bari, Amar Khamar project initiated by the government to help the people, especially the women, to generate more income for their economic freedom.
Mentioning women could be an ideal housewife, an ideal mother and an ideal woman, the premiere expressed hope that the women who received the Joyeeta awards today will show the path to others.
