The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a pre-budget views- sharing meeting here on Tuesday called for special budgetary allocation for women development in the greater interest of mainstreaming them in the nation-building process.

In this regard, they also viewed that without enhanced allocation in the budget, development of the vulnerable section of the society along with ensuring their legitimate rights could not be possible.

"There are no rules and regulations to obstruct women to take part in any social development work but the existing social practice has been blamed for creating the hindrance," they said adding that emphasis should be given on creating a sound working environment for them as they constitute half of the total population.

Rajshahi district and Rajshahi University units of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad (BMP) jointly hosted the meeting titled "Want specific allocation in the 2009-2010 budget for women development" at the conference hall of Gender Development and Resource Center.

Fazley Hossain Badsha MP, Professor Zinatunnessa Talukder MP, Language Veteran Abul Hossain and BMP Vice-president Professor Shahanara Hossain addressed the meeting as the guests of honor while BMP district unit president Abeda Raihan Buli was in the chair.

Fazley Hossain Badsha said the present government is very positive towards women development and it has been working relentlessly to transform them into competent workforce while Prof Zinnatunnessa underscored the need for a concerted effort to make the womenfolk free from all sorts of repression and violence.

However, they assured that they would place the recommendations of the meeting in the JS budget session and would put in their level best efforts to meet up the demands.

Professor Nilufer Sultana of Sociology Department of Rajshahi University presented a concept paper on the topic saying that formulation of a women-friendly and pro-people budget could be the means of taking the womenfolk towards a dignified position.

Among others, Professor ANM Saleh of Rajshahi University, Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alam of Shaw Unnayan, Foyzullah Chowdhury of Barendra Unnayan Prochesta, City unit vice-president of Mohila Awami League Akhter Jahan, journalists Rashed Ripon and Monjuara Khatun, social workers Mozammel Haque, Joytuna Khatun and Shahnaz Begum Shikha, Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, city unit president of CPB Abul Kalam Azad and city unit president of Campaign for Good Governance Fazlul Haque took part in the open discussion.

RU unit BMP secretary Dr Mahbuba Kaniz Keya moderated the discussion.

They said social change is indispensable to combat violence against women in the greater interest of bringing a sound atmosphere in every spheres of life. Similarly, proper interpretation of their rights must be ensured to create real place of women in our society.

Traditional and social values should be incorporated in our educational curriculum to express the real facts about women in positive manner, they added.