‘Women’s welfare must get priority in national plans’

Issues related to women's welfare must get priority in national development plans, policies, and in parliament, said speakers at a rally yesterday. 

They also demanded conducting rape trials with sensitivity, and ensuring speedy trials, punishment of rapists and safety of rape survivors.

They said  rape cases must not be settled out of court, survivors must not get married to their rapists, and the practice of victim-blaming must stop.

The central committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the rally near Sobhanbagh Masjid of the capital's Dhanmondi to demand prevention and remedy of incidents of rape and other forms of violence against women and children.

BMP acting president Fauzia Moslem presided over the programme. She said women are not safe even after 50 years of independence.

"Just like 2020, this year, we are continuously protesting due to  increasing incidents of rape and gender-based violence. But I think the government should be tougher in addressing these horrific incidents, and there must be strong accountability of state representatives," she added.

BMP Central Committee Vice President Rekha Chowdhury, General Secretary Maleka Banu, Joint General Secretary Shima Moslem, Assistant General Secretary Advocate Masuda Rehana Begum, among others, spoke at the programme.

At the end of the rally, they visited the National Parliament House and handed over a memorandum to the representative of the speaker.

Jona Goswami, director of advocacy and lobby of BMP, moderated the rally.