Empower
women for national uplift
Staff
Correspondent, Khulna
04 May, 2003
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Speakers called for empowering
women and involving them in national
development at a dialogue in Khulna
yesterday. Women should also be
allowed to exercise their rights
as elected people's representatives,
they said.
In their speeches to the dialogue
on 'Women Empowerment and National
Development', they called for
stern action to stem the tide
of violence against and sexual
harassment of women. The Centre
for Policy Dialogue organised
the event in collaboration with
The Daily Star and the Prothom
Aloat at the Western Inn.
Chaired by ADA chairperson Zakia
Akhtar, the unction was addressed,
among others, by Associate Professor
of North South University Dr Kanij
Siddiqui, Professor of Women Studies
at Dhaka University Sania Nishat
Amin, chairperson of Women Chamber
of Business and Industries Selina
Ahmed, Advocate Taslima Khatoon
Chanda, local Ward Commissioner
Ruma Khatoon, former ward commissioner
Rosy Rahman and Field Officer
of Rupantar Rizia Parveen. The
speakers said violence-free fair
polls must be ensured for women
voters and womens' demands should
be incorporated in the election
manifestoes of political parties.
"Those who do not show
respect to women should not
be given nomination," they
demanded.
They said women should be involved
in all political decision-making
and treated at a par with their
male counterparts in law courts.
They demanded trial of rape
cases in camera and equal rights
of women to public and private
jobs.
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