Loud protest against women repression

A partial view of the big rally (left) at Domar and the fair displaying products made by underprivileged women (right). PHOTO: STAR

The local people had a different experience as about 5000 women of all classes at a grand rally raised slogans and vowed to resist all sorts of violence against women. Many of them were from other districts.

The rally venue was decorated with placards and fastoons reading various slogans against women's repression.

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An exhibition of products by divorced and underprivileged women was an added attraction, which drew a large number of visitors including officials, NGO men and the elite.

The programme styled 'Jagoron Fair' (awakening fair) and 'Jagoron Pada Jatra' (awakening march) was organised by Aassash Mohila Unnayan Sangstha' (assurance women development organisation), an NGO, in collaboration with USAID and IOM (International Organisation for Migration) concluded on Thursday.

The theme of the programme was to spread a message to resist all sorts of women repression and to make underprivileged women self-reliant through vocational training.

The chief guest at the programme, Children and Women Affairs Minister Khurshid Jahan Haqe, in her speech said dowry is the main cause of women repression in Bangladesh.

She called for raising voices against the social curse and for creating awareness to eradicate this evil practice from society.

Only a social resistance with participation of all can eradicate this, she said.

The programme in Domar was part of a countrywide progarmme in phases that started from Rupsha in Khulna on February 24, the organisers said. The last programme will be held at Pathuria of Sunamganj district.

Presided over by central president of the organisation, Nasrin Sayed, the rally was addressed by, among others, Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Shafiul Islam and Police Superintendent Chowdhury Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Nilphamari district BNP President and Secretary General of EAB (Engineers Association of Bangladesh) Shahrin Islam Tuhin and IOM representative Nurul Islam.

Handicrafts and various cottage industry products made by distressed women were put on display at the fair.

In one stall at the fair, divorcee Fatema Begum narrated to this correspondent how she became self-reliant by making paper shopping bags from used cement bags.

She started making paper bags after the government banned polythene shopping bags. Her bags have good market.

"Now I can feed my three children and even have bought 10 decimal land to make my own house", she said.

She thanked 'AASSASH Mohila Unnayun Sangstha for raising new hopes in her.