'Women's contribution yet to get due recognition'

Women played a very important role during the liberation war, but they never received the recognition they deserve, said speakers at a reception yesterday.
During the liberation war, women provided the freedom fighters with food and shelter, nursed the injured and also took part in guerrilla warfare heroically while many became victims of rape and many other forms of atrocities, they also said at the reception at the Jatiya Mahila Sangstha auditorium in the city.
They demanded women get due recognition for their role during the liberation war and immediate trial of the war criminals.
Jatiya Mahila Sangstha of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs accorded the reception to women freedom fighters, including Deputy Leader of the Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Dr Makhdum Nargis Ratna, Zinnatunnisa Talukdar, Prof Jannatul Ferdous, Rafia Akter Doly, Farida Akter Saki and Bharati Nandi Sarkar.
Ivy Rahman, women's affairs secretary of Awami League who was killed in the August 21 grenade attack, and SM Monowara Begum Monu were also given posthumous award for their valiant role during the liberation war.
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in her speech urged all women freedom fighters to work together to bring the war criminals to book.
Matia Chowdhury said the true history of the liberation war had been distorted, but the present government will reveal the truth.
Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, state minister for women and children affairs, said the government is working for women's empowerment and women freedom fighters are the greatest symbols of women's empowerment.
Lawmaker Meher Afroze Chumki, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on women and children affairs ministry, Rokeya Sultana, secretary to the ministry, and Prof Mamtaz Begum, chairman of Jatiya Mahila Sangstha, also spoke.