Household Activities
'Measure women's role to prepare budget'
Ayesha Khanam, second from right, addressing a discussion on upcoming national budget and gender equality organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR
Experts at a discussion yesterday said women's contribution to the national economy through their agricultural and household activities must be measured to prepare a gender-sensitive budget. ''The budget is made following cost-benefit analysis. As a result, allocation for women are not given much importance as the non-economic household activities by women are not measured in Gross Domestic Product (GDP),' said Executive Director of Center for Policy Dialogue Dr Mostafizur Rahman. Allocation for women in the budget could not bring any change in their economic condition until women are not included in macro economic activities, he said. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the discussion meeting at the Jatiya Press Club. Stressing the need for a gender responsive budget, Executive Director of The Hunger Project Dr Badidul Alam Majumdar called for setting up a cell to monitor the allocations and expenditures regarding the women's issues in different ministries to ensure that the allocation for them are used properly. Professor and Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship of Brac Business School Mamun Rahsid suggested reducing tax by 10 percent for working class women. “If it is implemented, employers will show interest to offer more job opportunity for women,” he said. Dr Manjur Ahmed, senior adviser, Institute of Educational Development, presented the keynote paper while BMP president chaired the event.
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