Hate war criminals forever: PM

Source: Star file photo

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the country’s womenfolk to hate the war criminals for all time and forge unity against the evil force trying to dislodge women’s progress and emancipation.
“We have to always nourish our hatred against the war criminals responsible for rape, torture and violence on women, and their supporters,” she said while distributing Roquia Padak- 2013 here today.
Addressing a function at Osmani Memorial Hall here today, the prime minister paid her rich tributes to Begum Roquia, a pioneer of women renascence in the subcontinent.
“Begum Roquia has accomplished tremendous tasks to liberate women from the bondage of social malaises. Today, we would not have got the opportunities in the society, had Begum Roquia not been born,” she said.
Pointing out the women role to the country’s independence and development, the prime minister said, “We could earn many of our national achievements due to immense sacrifice of the women”.
“We are now liberated. But, we should remember that our sisters and mothers suffered immense by the occupation forces and their local collaborators for the independence,” she said.
“So, we have to always hate the war criminals and their supporters who put forth our sisters and mothers to the hands of the occupation force, committed genocide and destroyed our villages in 1971,” she said.
Two distinguish lady — Jharna Dhara Chowdhury and Professor Hamida Banu — were conferred the Roquia Padak-2013 for their outstanding contribution to the cause of women in the society.
Award recipient Professor Hamida Banu, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Tariqul Islam spoke, among others, on the occasion while chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of children and women affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira was in the chair.
The prime minister sought support of all particularly the womenfolk to complete the process of the trial of the war criminals initiated by her government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said despite born and brought up in a conservative society of nineteenth century Begum Roquia was the pioneer of women education and freedom of women.
“We become surprised with many writings of Begum Roquia and her degree of understandings for education and development of women long time ago,” she said adding, “How deep her thought was who considered for position of ladies at the top of the administration, judiciary and leadership.”
Pointing out her government’s initiatives development of women, the prime minister said many of the thoughts Begum Roquia are gaining ground now through establishing their rights at all level of the society.
Hasina said Begum Roquia boldly faced all obstacles of a conservative society and felt that only education could ensure self-respect, self-freedom and empowerment of women.
Begum Roquia had realised that the desired goal of development could not be possible unless women are involved in all activities in the family, society and the state, she said.
The prime minister called upon the private organisations and individuals to come forward to supplement the government efforts for the development of country’s womenfolk and ensure their equal rights and opportunities.
She said in order to materialise the thoughts and spirit of Begum Roquia, the government has been implementing various women development programmes putting special emphasis on ensuring the participation of women in all national activities.
Being imbued with the teachings and ideals of Begum Roquia, her government has been working for the welfare and development of the women, she said.
The PM said massive steps have been taken to enhance skill and employment opportunities for the women, groom up them as entrepreneurs, ensure their massive participation in the labour market as well as increase their economic power.
National Women Development Policy-2011 and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act-2010 were enacted for their empowerment, establishing their rights as well as preventing social crimes against women, she said.
The prime minister said female education has been made free up to higher secondary level.
High enrolment of girl students at primary schools is a unique achievement of the government, she added.
She said Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is running the Begum Roquia Agriculture Training Centre in Mymensingh and Begum Roquia Workers Female Hostel in Dhaka as a mark to show respect to the great lady.
Terming achievements of MDG awards in 2010 in developing socio-economic development of the country, Hasina said six of the eight MDGs are related to development of women and children.
She said special emphasis has been given in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) on establishing gender equity and women’s poverty reduction.
Highlighted various programmes taken by her government, she said, poor women were given utmost priority in the `One House One Farm project, VGD, Asrayan programmes and giving allowances for old-age persons, widows and lactating mothers.
About the empowerment of women, the prime minister said her government has created a unique example in the world through electing women representatives in the local government bodies.