Violence undermining women's successes

Despite the progress of women in different fields, violence against them continues to undermine the success, speakers told Bangladesh Mahila Parishad's 46th anniversary programme yesterday.

The chief guest, Prof Emeritus Anisuzzaman, said he felt that compared to any other time, violence against women had increased both in numbers and nature.

Criticising the police ban on outdoor programmes after 5:00pm on Pahela Baishakh, Anisuzzaman said, "Those who are reducing the programme time mentioning security reasons, what certainty is there that some other day they won't ask women to stay at home for security reasons?"

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, which has been working for women's rights since 1970, celebrated its anniversary by awarding 28 women from different fields.

The programme was held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.

Two paratroopers of Bangladesh Army, four police officials, first female train operator, two film-makers, two women working in information technology, two artists, two women entrepreneurs, two sportswomen, two disability rights activists, and nine journalists, including Tamanna Khan, senior reporter of The Daily Star, was awarded for their work in their respective fields.

Since 2007, as part of its anniversary celebration, BMP has been recognising women's works in different socio-economic and cultural fields.

Special guest Norwegian Ambassador Merete Lundemo said the awardees would inspire other women to come out and work for gender equality, women's rights and empowerment.

Referring to the 46th anniversary theme "Equal rights on property and resources is the pre-requisite for women empowerment and sustainable development", BMP President Ayesha Khanom said the traditional law of the land did not even allow the speaker or the prime minister of the country, both women, equal rights in property. She said the more a state focused on women and its backward community, the more democratic it would become and the more it would progress.

Chaitali Tripura, student and youth affairs joint secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, and Nazma Ara Poppy, joint coordinator of National Disability Forum, also spoke.