The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday hoped that the government will be able to announce a women's development policy soon.

The policy will reflect the ideals of equality in light of the Constitution, UN charter on abolition of all discriminations to women and the Beijing work plan, he added.

He said the government has meanwhile almost finalised formation of "Citizenship Act" with a view to ensuring equal rights of all citizen of the country.

Dr Fakhruddin said this while inaugurating the three-day 11th national conference of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center here.

Advisers, special assistants, dignitaries and women leaders were present on the occasion. The theme of the conference was "Equality Needs Equal Opportunity."

With BMP President Hena Das in the chair, the function was addressed, by Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh Ingebjorg Stof-ring, BMP general secretary Ayesha Khanam, Selina Khalid and Moududa Begum.

The meeting expressed condolence at the death of eminent persons at home and abroad in recent years.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed said the government is considering various recommendations on women development made by BMP. The government is implementing multi-sectoral programmes for women development, he said and added a modern DNA laboratory has been set up in Dhaka to detect women oppressors, he added. Dr Fakhruddin said different initiatives have been taken to increase participation of women in policy making at various levels of civil and military administration.

The Chief Adviser laid emphasis on social awareness and positive values in flourishing the capability of women and called upon all to build social movement side by side with legal process to reduce gender discrimination and resist domestic torture.

Dr Fakhruddin said an overall reform is necessary in the political and socio-economic culture and election process for ensuring equal participation of women in governing the state which would help ensure women empowerment as well.

He firmly hoped that the dream of women awakening of Begum Rokeya, pioneer of women movement in the sub-continent, will take a complete shape in her motherland soon.

Dr Fakhruddin thanked the BMP formed under the leadership of Poet Sufia Kamal, a successor of Begum Rokeya, for playing a positive role during the last 37 years in realizing women's right.

Quoting eminent scholar and academic Dr Muhammad Shahidullah, the Chief Adviser said women and men are associates to each other in the struggle of life and achieving its goals.

He said the presence of women in various working life including risky professions is now visible. The women are the main contributor in the export sector and the micro-credit sector, he added.

Despite the fact, women become victims of discrimination at various stages of national life every day, he said and added it is painful but true that due to dominance of patriarchal mentality, equal rights for men and women are not reflected in reality, although it is in the Constitution.