Vote against corrupts, women repressor: Mahila Parishad to voters

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad today called upon people to exercise their franchise against corrupts, black money owners, women repressors and muscle power in the Dhaka north and south city corporation elections.

Fouzia Moslem, acting president of the non-political and voluntary women organisation, came up with the call while addressing a programme at its Anwara Begum-Munira Khan auditorium in Dhaka this afternoon.

Placing 41-point recommendation for holding free fair and inclusive elections to the city corporations, she said the Election Commission will have to ensure that no one can use religion during the campaign ahead of the elections.   

The commission will have to take appropriate measures so that people from the anti-liberation quarter, drug traders and human rights violators cannot participate in the election, she said.

The constitutional body will have to ensure adequate security so that women and challenged people can cast their votes in a free, fair and secure manner, she said.

She also made a call to the councillor aspirants for women reserved seats in the elections to build the capital a modern, developed, well-planned and women-friendly secured city and asked them to include these issues in their election manifesto.

The government should ensure women security in the city otherwise people will not enjoy fruitful results of the government achievement, she said.  

Elections to two mayor posts, 111 councillors and 37 posts for women reserved seats in Dhaka north and south city corporations will be held on January 30, she said.

Claiming that equal participation of women in running a state and decision-making process is imperative, Fouzia said a female councillor for the reserved seat has to work in three wards against single ward of a male councillor.

In this context, the women councillors cannot ensure their due role in development activities as they are deprived of equal government funds and working environment, she said.

The local government authority should come up with a step so that the female representatives can play their equal role in every development activities across the country to ensure the country’s peace and progress.