Men stand for women's rights

Condemning violence against women and demanding equal dignity for females, a large number of men joined a solidarity rally in the capital yesterday.

The gathering was part of a 16-day campaign, marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organised it at Central Shaheed Minar with the slogan, "The family and society shall be the centre for resisting violence against women and girl child".

Activists of several social and women's rights organisations also joined the programme expressing solidarity.

Speakers hoped that man and woman would have the same dignity, and family, society, and state would give a secured environment for women.

Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, said the country's achievements were questioned when females were assaulted.

"The nation will not make progress if women, who make up half of the population, are deprived of taking part in all activities equally with men and if the ongoing violence against girls and women is not stopped," she added.

Maleka Khanam, general secretary of Mahila Parishad, said men had to come forward to eliminate violence against women.

The data of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) shows that 87 percent of females are assaulted at home by their husbands.

Theatre personality Ramendu Majumder, Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haque, and cultural personality Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay also spoke.