'Increase reserve seats for women in JS to 100'

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad yesterday reiterated its demand for raising the reserve seats for women in parliament to at least 100 with direct elections to them.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, the parishad leaders said the government has brought some changes in the national policy on women development recently which will halt the possibility of direct election to the reserved women seats in the Jatiya Sangsad.

They asked the government to seek opinion of different women's organisations before bringing any changes in the national policy on women development prepared in 1997.

The leaders said the government has passed a bill on reserved women seats in parliament ignoring the demands of women community.

"The bill is a disgrace for women, and two cases are pending on it before the High Court," said Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of Mahila Parishad.

Mahila Parishad President Hena Das, Rekha Chowdhury and Selina Khaleque were present.