Women's empowerment in political process stressed

Speakers at a roundtable yesterday emphasised women's empowerment in political process to ensure women's rights in all strata of life.
“Proper environment, adequate budget and scopes for work for the elected female vice-chairmen in the local government would help overall development of the country,” said the speakers.
Journalism Training and Research Initiative (JATRI) organised the roundtable titled “Role of women in local government in media perspective” at its conference room.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Coudhury in her speec as the chief guest said women leadership is important to ensure transparency and responsibility at local level.
“If the women get the proper environment, they can contribute to this sector. All the ministries concerned should communicate each other to eradicate the problems of the female vice-chairman,” she said.
Dulal Chandra Biswas, director general of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), media personal Muhammad Jahangir, Jamil Ahmed, head of porgramme of JATRI, DG of National Institute of Mass Communication Makbul Ahmed, Gazipur and Savar upazila vice-chairman Rina Parveen and Rokeya Haq also spoke at the roundtable.
Ajoy Das Gupta, associate editor of Daily Samakal, in his survey from December 2009-January 2010, said 91 percent female vice-chairmen stated that the local lawmakers interfere in the upazila activities.
The survey conducted on 329, out of 480 female vice-chairmen, also found that 30 percent of them said there is no congenial environment for women in the upazilas to work properly.
Eighty-four percent of the female vice-chairmen thought that their importance has increased after being elected as vice-chairman, the survey said.