Economic freedom very crucial for women: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the country's womenfolk to move with self-confidence and dignity and stand on their own feet to consolidate their position in society, reports BSS.

She also said economic freedom is very important for the women.

"The economic freedom is very crucial for the women. So the womenfolk of the country shouldn't sit idle (in houses) and they will have to work and stand on their own feet side by side with pursuing study," she told the inaugural function of the International Women's Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city Thursday.

The premier said a woman can consolidate her position in society and family and none will dare to neglect her if she earns money through work. "A society cannot raise its head high if women remain underdeveloped there," she said.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs arranged the function with State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki in the chair.

UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Mia Seppo was present in the function as the special guest, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nasima Begum delivered the welcome address.

At the function, a documentary on the government's development activities for the women was screened.

Putting emphasis on creating equal opportunities for males and females, the prime minister said it's very essential to develop the society.

She said equal scopes will have to be given to men and women, and in this way arrangements for employment for the females will have to be made and their strength and merit will have to be utilised at the workplaces.

"How a society will prosper leaving the women behind? ... no work will be done if they are not given scope," she said.

Pointing out that her government has taken measures to integrate the womenfolk in the mainstream of development, Sheikh Hasina said the country will advance further if males and females work together.

"We want that every boy and girl will pursue education and they will be groomed as good human beings and move with dignity keeping pace with the world," she said.

The Prime Minister said the aim of her government is to create scope for women by protecting their rights. "Our goal is to ensure their movement in every sphere of the life and we progressed much in this regard ... Bangladesh's girls demonstrated their success in many fields which many developed countries couldn't," she said.

In this connection, the Prime Minister said: "We want that you will move with self-confidence and dignity and take care of the family properly."

Mentioning that the country's womenfolk are getting opportunities in every field, Sheikh Hasina said this success didn't come overnight and for this "we had to struggle much."

Elaborating her government's measures for women development, the remier said her government has been implementing various projects and programmes to consolidate women's empowerment, child protection and achieve gender equality as laid down in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).