'Increase seats for women in JS for political empowerment'

They said these seats should not be fixed for any particular constituency, rather these must rotate by turn in all the 300 constituencies.

The national workshop styled 'Democratic state, women's political empowerment and role of media' was organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at Biam auditorium in the city.

Speaking at the programme Deputy Editor of the Samakal Mozammel Hossain Manju said the system of reserved seats has gone against the empowerment of women.

"However, if the number of reserved seats for women is increased and these seats rotate throughout the country, then political parties would prepare their female candidates for those constituencies in their own interest," he added.

While speaking on the independence of judiciary and women's rights, Barrister Sara Hossain focused on different verdicts of the High Court (HC) during previous governments and expressed her concern over its current state of affairs.

"Movement for protecting the independence of judiciary is not only the lawyers' movement but also the movement of everybody, " Sara observed.

She also accused the fundamentalist forces of omitting the issue of equality of women with men from Bangladesh Women Development Policy.

"Everybody should work from one's own position for total emancipation of women," said BMP President Hena Das.

BMP General Secretary Ayesha Khanom and its Vice- President Selina Khaleq also spoke on the occasion.