Change traditional attitudes towards women
Former chief adviser Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman lights a lamp to inaugurate a national conference of Karmojibi Nari at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday. Eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain and Norwegian Ambassador in Dhaka Ingebjorg Stofring are also seen.Photo: STAR
An improved situation, where all men and women can have the taste of creative and participatory democracy, gradually appears to be far reachable, said Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, former chief adviser to a caretaker government, yesterday.
“It requires further thinking whether the decision on an issue of conflict should be taken immediately at a time of pre-election uncertainty or left for the next elected government of the country where it is easy to sow the seeds of conflicts, but difficult to root out them,” he said.
Justice Rahman was speaking as chief guest at the national conference of Karmojibi Nari at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital. The conference was dedicated to Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam.
Justice Rahman said many laws have been formulated against repression on women and that helped its reduction to some extent, but repression against women still exists.
Lauding women's development in various sectors like garment industries, entrepreneurship and holding of posts in important institutions, he said, “We should learn from these developments and change our traditional attitudes towards them.”
He said the constitution ensures that the labour laws will be implemented without any discrimination, but in reality the women workers have less security under these laws.
“Their rights are not protected by the laws despite the fact that the number of women workers increased massively in informal sector,” he added.
Justice Rahman said there might be differences in terms of education, wealth, health and other issues among those who claim equal rights, but there will be no exception in the case of their equal right to have legal shelter.
Most women cannot make right use of their power and business chances due to lack of education and social bars on their movements, he added.
He said the Citizenship Law of 1951 is an example that narrowed women's right while there is lack of equality in some criminal laws.
“Our success will depend on many issues. We should think of other deprived communities alongside the freedom of women. Men can be friends of women and true freedom of all depends on concerted efforts of men and women,” he added.
Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury said it is not possible for government alone to fully implement National Women Development Policy, it requires pledges of political parties in their manifestos.
Women are the main vehicles for major achievements of the country, she said, adding it is the women who through their successes in micro-credit schemes helped a Bangladeshi win Nobel Prize.
Women may be lagging behind in tertiary education, but wherever they have a little chance, they are utilising it to advance their position, said Rasheda.
Speaking as special guest, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said a large portion of women contribute to economic activities in their families, but they are not recognised just because they are not paid.
“They need to be recognised,” he said, adding that they are subjected to violence despite government's pledge for their equal dignity.
The corporate businesses should discharge their social responsibility towards their staffs and society, Iftekhar added.
Bangladesh Economic Association President Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad was critical of the formation of a committee to review the women development policy and accepting its recommendations.
“I think the government's weakness is mainly responsible for unexpected militant activities by a section of people and the formation of the review committee,” he said.
Karmojibi Nari President Shirin Akhter called upon all to launch a greater movement to realise the just rights and dignity of women and eliminate fundamental elements from the society.
“Those committed crimes and looted the respect of women cannot be forgiven,” she said demanding immediate formation of a tribunal to try the war criminals.
Women leader Hena Das, Karmojibi Nari General Secretary Sharmin Kabir, conference Convener Gulshan Manzur and Royal Norwegian Ambassador in Dhaka Ingebjorg Stofring also spoke on the occasion.
The conference was attended by over 3000 members of Karmojibi Nari which has around five lakh members.
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