Vow to eliminate inequality, fight dowry menace

Around a thousand people at remote Boterhat village under Biral upazila in the district yesterday pledged to work together for elimination of all sorts of discrimination against women.
The audience that included a large number of women, also vowed to fight against dowry.
Local NGO Udyog organised the daylong programme in cooperation with 'Manusher Jonno Foundation' to 'raise voice against discrimination between male and female' in the society.Women of the country still have to fight for their equal rights while there is lack of awareness on the matter, speakers said at the meeting at Ranipukur school ground.
They called for immediate implementation of the National Women Development Policy, formulation of a 'uniform family code' and withdrawal of reservations to article 2 and 16 (1)(c) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
If all people in the society become conscious about the rights of women, a time will come when all kinds of discriminations against women will be eliminated and there will be no need for celebration of a special day for the purpose.
Md Kalid Mahmud Chowdhury, lawmaker from Dinajpur-2 constituency, who attended the programme as chief guest, said police and local administration should be careful in applying the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act as it is often used to harass people to avenge incidents due to personal enmity.
The audience present at the meeting vowed to protest any incident of violence against women and refrain from abusing women and taking dowry.
Md Ashraful Alam, director (Finance and Admin) of Manusher Jonno Foundation, attended as special guest at the programme presided over by Biral upazila Chairman Md Mokarram Hossain.
Udyog Chief Executive Officer Ummey Nahar presented the keynote at the programme.
Later the meeting honoured 16 couples who recently got married without dowry.
Besides, 482 more people promised not to take dowry during their marriage, the meeting was told.
On the occasion, a 'Gender Mela' was organised on the school compound to create awareness about bridging the gap between male and female.