Women's chores as economic activity on cards: Muhith
The government is going to recognise chores performed by women as economic activity, said Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday.
The minister also said the government already discussed about this long-awaited demand of women, with institutions concerned formulating strategies in this regard.
Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day national council meeting of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Muhith said women contribute almost 30 percent of the country's economic activities.
“But, the actual figure of their (women's) contribution will be more if their chores are recognised as economic activities,” he said at city's BIAM auditorium.
Though women achieved significant success in different sectors, their empowerment rate in the local government bodies and parliament is still not satisfactory, the minister observed.
He said laws to protect women from all sorts of violence is very important though many may claim that laws are not executed properly at all cases.
The minister said torture like 'fatwa' against women used to occur inside homes and seldom came to light. But now, these incidents are being heard and protested against.
Muhith said strategies were adopted with due importance in the sixth five-year plan, to be finalised shortly, to ensure women's rights and living standards.
Over 300 representatives of Mahila Parishad from 61 districts participated in the council.
Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khan said the actual empowerment of women would not be ensured unless they are politically empowered. She demanded one-third seats in the national parliament be reserved for women and provisions for women to contest in polls directly.
Mahila Parishad General Secretary Dr Maleka Banu and Norwegian Ambassador to Dhaka Ragne Birte Lund also spoke in the function.
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