The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Government should preserve 40 per cent seats for women in local government body to empower them.

The constitution of Bangladesh endorses equal rights for women in all spheres of life, said Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Sultana Kamal, also Executive Director of Ain O Shalish Kendra at a press conference after the National Convention on "Elected Women Representatives of Local Government" organised by Nari Uddog Kendra (NUK) at LGED auditorium yesterday.

The contribution of women in social and economical development of the country are noteworthy. They played vital role in all the movements in the history of Bangladesh, which helped the nation to be independent, she added.

She also urged the women who were present at the convention to take oath to carry on movement until the establishment of their equal rights in every sphere. Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh, said

"All the previous Governments ignored the issue of establishing equal rights for women. They tried to confine the women community at home on the excuse of religious or social barriers. But we believe that the Caretaker Government will take the issue seriously and will approve the proposal for preserving 40 per cent seats in the local Government body."

It may be mentioned that a committee coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government drafted an ordinance that includes the proposal of preserving 40 per cent of seats for women in the local Government body. But the proposal was suspended in the meeting of Adviser's Committee on April 24. The body decided to revive the previous system of preserving 33 per cent.

Rejecting the decision of the committee Shamima Sultana Sima, Convener of National Federation of Local Government Women Representatives, said, " We have sent an application to the President demanding approval of 40 per cent. We will go for tough action, if the President refuses to meet the demand."

Taleya Rehman, Executive Director of Democracy Watch, Dr Badiul Alam Mazumder, member of Local Government Reform Committee, Masuda Khatun Shefali, Executive Director of NUK also spoke.