"If a poor country like Bangladesh can successfully run the safety net project for helping the elderly people and widows, maternity allowance is not beyond our reach," said renowned economist and Unnoyon Somonnoy Chairman Dr Atiur Rahman.

He said although this time the budget is not in the hands of any elected government, people still want their demands to be reflected in it.

The seminar titled 'Maternity allowance to implement the PRSP' was organised by the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs auditorium.

Dr Abu Jamil Faisal, country representative of Engender Health, presented the keynote speech at the seminar.

He laid emphasis on including the maternity allowance scheme in the budget as per the study report of a pilot project.

The study, done at seven upazilas in six divisions across the country, showed 20 hard-core poor women received the allowance and of them 89.47 per cent mothers had access to anti-natal care (ANC) and 80 percent took the post-natal care (PNC).

Besides, 80 percent women, who gave birth at home, were attended by skilled birth attendants.

The study also revealed that about 40 percent women have access to ANC, 15 percent to PNC while 11.5 percent got skilled birth attendant across the country.

Besides, 66 percent children of these mothers attained standard weight completing EPI course that would save them from six childhood diseases, it added.

Speaking as chief guest at the seminar M Hafizuddin Khan, former adviser to caretaker government, said since Bangladesh is now moving towards one-child family, the allowance should be given only for the first baby.

ASM Shahjahan, another former adviser to caretaker government, said since the study proved that maternity allowance can empower women and can play a significant role in reducing maternal mortality, the government should include the provision in this budget.

Former secretary Dr Kazi Mesbahuddin, Dr Umme Salma, and researcher Dr Khorsed Alam also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile, DORP has already submitted memorandum to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam in this regard.