Pragmatic steps create opportunity for women

FE Report | Published: February 03, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Speakers at a function Sunday stressed on continuation of positive action programmes to help empower the underprivileged people, particularly women until they achieve equal rights in the society.
They also observed that despite being a conservative nation like other Muslim countries in the world, the level of success Bangladesh has achieved in education, politics and social sectors has been possible because of the various pragmatic action programmes which created opportunity for women and helped them get involved in the development process.
They suggested continuation of the existing reserved seats for women in parliament which will ultimately help them attain leadership quality as has already been demonstrated by many of the women national leaders.
They were speaking on the second day of the two-day international political science association (IPSA) regional conference on 'Rethinking Political Development: Cultures, Civilisations and Identity' at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) in the city. PRI and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) jointly hosted the conference.     
Economic adviser to the Prime Minister Mashiur Rahman was present as the chief guest while PRI executive director Ahsan Mansur moderated the discussion. Three papers were presented at the first session on the second day of the event.  
In his remarks, Ahsan Mansur said women empowerment is a continuous process and it is getting momentum in this part of the world and it should continue. Because this is the critical element of the development process. In other words development and empowerment is complimentary.
Citing examples of the two national leaders of major political parties, he said they have come from a simple background and gradually learnt politics and reached this level.
"Many of us think that women empowerment means to create opportunity that cannot be utilized. But it's not true," said Mr Mansur, adding once they are entrusted with the responsibility they become part of the process and learn the business gradually.
He suggested necessary action programme to overcome under development of certain segments of the society.
National Youth and Social Welfare Council of Bangladesh chairman Fazlul Haque said development of a country depends on how it prepares its people, how it educates them or socialises them. Citing various examples he said women are doing excellent jobs in social sectors. It is the social sector from where the future leaders will born and not from this politics of vengeance or clash.   
Mashiur Rahman said Bangladesh has some inherent dynamism of equality between men and women as there is balance in their number.
He said there is no reason of being pessimistic about women's rights.
Hudson Institute senior fellow Maneeza Hossain presented a paper on 'Law and Culture in Women's Empowerment for Sustainable Development'.
In her paper she said Bangladesh has a mixed record of success where a deep structural defects lie when it comes to the status of women. Violence against women and vulnerable status of women in general remain alarming despite the visibility of shining textile factory workers, rising middle class educated young women and women in politics.