ZCZC
BSS- 27
PM-BEGUM-ROKEYA-DAY-2-LAST-DHAKA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said alongside making education free of cost, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the independence had secured women rights in the constitution and reserved seats for women in parliament for developing women leadership.
Besides, the Father of the Nation had also changed the law to give opportunity to women for competing in government jobs after independence which was not possible in Pakistan era, she added.
Sheikh Hasina said after forming government in 1996 she had taken necessary measures to appoint woman justice in the higher court and promoted women as secretary of the government for first time to ensure women empowerment.
She said her government has introduced legal aid services so women can receive legal aid free of cost and get justice. In addition, the government is also providing widow allowance, old allowance and allowance for women abandoned by their husbands to keep them financially solvent, she added.
The Prime Minister said the government is constructing hostels across the country, even at the district and upazila levels, for working women so they could get good accommodation. “With this, women will be able to continue their jobs staying in secured places.”
Pointing out women and children repression is not a problem only for Bangladesh rather it’s a worldwide issue, she said the government has already taken various measures such as setting up help centre 109 and national call centre 999 to stop these social menaces.
“Process is also going on to set up DNA laboratory which would help identify and apprehend the criminals of any incident,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said women have stepped into a dignified position in the country now and they are working in higher capacities in the administration, judiciary, armed forces and other sectors.
“Parliament Speaker, leader of the House, leader of the opposition and deputy leader in parliament are all women in Bangladesh, which is a unique example in the world,” she said, mentioning that it is praised abroad regularly.
Referring to the dreams of Begum Rokeya, she said the great women wanted to see women stand on their own feet by attaining proper education.
The Prime Minister said her daughter Saima Hossain is also born on the birthday of Begum Rokeya and she sought doa from all for Saima.
She said Saima Hossain has been working on differently able and autistic persons who were neglected in society but now awareness has been created about it and a resolution was passed in the United Nations at her initiative.
The premier said the government is working to provide treatment and other facilities to differently able and autistic persons.
Against the backdrop of ongoing Covid-19 situation, she also reiterated her call to the country’s people to maintain the proper health guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus.
BSS/MAK/GA/1707 hrs