The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday stressed on ensuring balanced and appropriate rights of women in the light of Islamic laws to restore social order and for their empowerment.

They demanded full implementation of the present Islamic inheritance laws in the country for empowerment of women, adding that about 80 per cent of the women do not inherit landed property.

They were addressing a roundtable on "National Women Development Policy: A Nationwide Agreement is Needed" organised by Islamic Law Research Centre and Legal Aid Bangladesh at the National Press Club in the city.

Former Secretary Shah Abdul Hannan presided over the function, while former Justice Abu Syeed Ahmed as chief guest, former Minister Syeda Razia Fayez, former MPs Rasheda Begum Hira and Adv Ferdous Akter Wahida, General Secretary of the centre Adv Nazrul Islam, Executive Editor of the daily Inqilab Moulana Ruhul Amin Khan, Prof Abdul Mabud of the University of Dhaka, Moulana Kamal Uddin Jafferi, Dr ABM Hizbullah, Kushtia Islamic University and Prof Dr ABM Mahbub Islam, among others, addressed it.

They urged the country's Muslim males to change their negative attitude to the women in the country.

Former Justice Abu Syeed Ahmed said the Holy Quran is the best constitution and the sections in the women policy which are contradictory to the Quran should be avoided.

Shah Abdul Hannan said justice or balance is needed for the wellbeing of the human being, saying that the "equality" does not always bring welfare for the society.

Syeda Razia Faiz said the policy-which is anti- family and social system- would push the women to destruction like the jute policy that led the sector to destruction.

She said the Caretaker Government has no mandate to formulate the National Women Development Policy.

She criticised the government for not including the woman representative in the policy review committee.

Dr ABM Hizbullah said the Islamic laws are needed to be implemented to abolish eve-teasing and creating women friendly environment in the country.