Government asked to keep election pledge regarding women rights
Speakers at a rally in the Rajshahi city said brutal violence towards women escalates in Bangladesh in absence of cohesive community response against sexual harassment of women.
They also criticised the government for its failure in ensuring safe and suitable workplace, educational institution and homestead for the women.
Speakers denounced the ruling Awami League government as it was yet to revive the National Women Development Policy 1997, as it was the party’s one of the electoral agenda.
They urged the government to enforce the United Nation’s convention on repression of women as Bangladesh was a member of UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
They said these while addressing the rally organised by Barendra Unnayan Forum, a non-governmental organisation for gender equality, good governance and human rights, at one of the chars on River Padma near Munnujan Primary School in the Rajshahi city at 12:00pm on Thursday.
The forum organised the rally with the slogan ‘resist violence against women by breaking silence’ on the occasion of International Women Repression Prevention Fortnight 2011.
Barendra Unnayan Forum president Hasinul Islam Chunnu, general secretary Fayezullah Chaudhury, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association Rajshahi divisional unit president Dill Setara Chuni, Anti-Corruption Publicity convener ASM Jahid, Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad convener Jamat Khan, Rajshahi Journalist Union president Hasan Millat and Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Rajshahi district unit general secretary Kalpona Roy, among others, addressed the rally.
People from all walks of life, especially female workers of government and non-governmental organisations, teachers and female students of educational institutions, joined the rally.
Dill Setara Chuni said it was the worst form of trauma that many women suffer, a significant portion of who belong to the working class people, amidst many other deprivations such as rights to property, education, information, health and recognition.
She also urged the government to enact a ‘uniform family code’ and a separate act to deal with sexual harassment.
She also demanded full implementation of the Domestic Violence (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2010 and amendment to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000.
Kalpona Roy demanded implementation of the court verdict against Fatwa, formation of a network of women of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation countries and enactment of a law to deal with women and child trafficking.
The speakers said the Awami League government in its election manifesto pledged to revive its National Women’s Development Policy that was formulated in 1997, however, till today, it had yet been brought to effect.
They urged the prime minister and apex body of the ruling party to implement their election pledge as soon as possible.
Speakers at programme expressed their grave concern on the committing suicide of the women who had experienced sexual harassment.
Mass awareness among women was a must to stop such humiliation and to protect their rights, they added.
Later, on Thursday evening, a cultural programme was held and a documentary was screened focusing on the programme issues.
