International Women’s Day on March 8
Call to recognise women’s contribution
Different organisations chalked out a number of programmes yesterday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day on March 8 this year.
Karmojibi Nari (KN) organised a rally with the slogan ‘Recognition and equal rights of women in a world free from discrimination, exploitation and violence’ at Muktangan in the city.
The leaders of KN also took out a colourful procession that paraded through different city streets areas with a demand to recognise the contribution of women and their dignity in the workplaces.
KN President Shirin Akhter said the movement the working women had started at a needle factory in 1857 to realise their demands got momentum in 1910.
Their movement forced the world to observe March 8 as the International Women’s Day, but they have to fight for the same reason even after 100 years, she said, adding that the recent deaths of 13 women at Garib and Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur proves that.
The KN leader demanded immediate arrest of the persons responsible for and punishment to them.
Coordinator of the organisation Arifa Akter Banu demanded implementation of the National Women Development Policy, trial of war criminals, equal wage for male and female workers, maternity leave, safe workplace, one-third women representative at all levels, recognition to rural women workers and a complete labour law for agriculture workers.
At the same time, a parliamentary caucus on women should be formed to place the women issues in parliament and to enact laws, she demanded.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) also held the ‘Nari Jagaran Jatra’ (Awakening Journey of Women) for the second consecutive day at different northern districts.
As part of its year-long activities, the three-day journey began on March 3 from Dhaka to Tentulia.
Convener of the centenary observance committee of CPB Laxmi Chakravarti, joint conveners Monira Begum Anu, Rehana Mallik and members Lina Chakravarti, AN Rasheda Kuddus and Jolly Talukder also spoke.