'Enact laws to ensure rights of CHT women'

Ching Koai honoured for her 55-yr service to humanity

8 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Speakers at a discussion marking the International Women's Day yesterday called upon the government to enact laws to ensure equal rights of indigenous women in the hill districts. Organised at Bandarban Tribal Cultural Institute auditorium, it was attended by former advisor to caretaker government advocate Sultana Kamal. At the function she handed over Ching Koai Prue Marma 'award of honour' for her 55 years of social work for women and service to humanity. Chittagong Hill Tracts Women Organisation Network (CHTWON) in cooperation with the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) arranged the function. Ching Koai Prue started serving as a teacher in 1954, when she was 28. Herself deprived of higher education due to poverty and lack of facilities, Ching Koai got involved in various programmes for development backward people, especially women, in the area. She is still unmarried and at the age of 83, the dedicated woman continues her social service. In his keynote paper presented at the function, Mong Kew Sue Nue said CHT indigenous women, especially those belonging to the Buddhist community, are deprived of their rights in absence of laws. In her address as the chief guest, Sultana Kamal urged the government to take immediate steps to frame an up to date law for indigenous women in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to ensure their rights. Other speakers at the function demanded steps for CHT women's development, especially in education, employment, healthcare and family decision making. Among others, Bandarban municipality Commissioner Dilip Barua, former woman lawmaker Mya Ma Ching, UNDP gender specialist Tuku Talukder, Vice-Chairman of Bandarban Sadar upazila Shuchitra Tanchangya, Chairperson of CHTWON Daw Nai Prue, Prof Abu Taher Bhuiyan, NGO activists Daw Nai Prue, Jhuma Dewan, were present at the function.