PM for stringent measures to stop repression on women

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday expressed her government's firm stance on taking stringent measurers to prevent all social crimes including repression on women and children, sexual harassment, acid throwing and teasing women on roads and educational institutions, reports BSS. The Prime Minister (PM) said this while speaking at a function organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city Tuesday marking the International Women's Day-2011. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury and Acting Secretary to the ministry Tariq-Ul- Islam also spoke on the occasion. The theme of this year's International Women's Day is 'Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.' The PM said: "We would take stern actions against the perpetrators of such crimes as we are committed to stopping those menaces to ensure safety and security of the womenfolk and ensuring their rights. A new law has been promulgated to ensure punishment of the culprits," she said. Referring to the atrocities on women and children after the 2001 general election across the country by the BNP-Jama'at terrorists, the PM said it was nothing but a repetition of the atrocities on women during the country's War of Liberation in 1971. In this context, she cited the names of Mahima in Rajshahi, Purnima in Sirajganj, Shefali and her daughter in Gauranadi, Barisal who were tortured and gang raped by the BNP-Jama'at terrorists for casting their votes for Awami League candidates during the 2001 general election. Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League said the society has to be vigilant against the crimes. We have to take stern actions against the terrorists so that such incidents do not take place in the country in future. Laying emphasis on making the womenfolk economically self- reliant to establish their rights, she said time has come to evaluate how much the position of women has been established in society and how much they are independent in economic activities. We also have to evaluate how much they are independent to take political decisions. The Prime Minister said political empowerment of the womenfolk is much crucial for their overall uplift as well as establishing their rights. She said her government for the first time in the country has taken steps to establish women leadership at the grassroots levels. She said her previous government had promoted women to the post of SP, DC and even OC. Sheikh Hasina said her government as part of empowering the women folk has created jobs for women, ensured lodging facilities for the garment workers in different EPZs, provided stipend to girl students to prevent school dropout and provided medicare services to the rural women. Apart from this, she said various vocational trainings are being imparted to the women at upazila and district levels for their self-employment with an aim to ensure their economic empowerment crucial for their overall development. Regarding discrimination of boys and girls at home, she called upon the parents to treat them equally. The baby girl can be a valuable asset if she gets proper attention from the family, she added. The PM said her government is working relentlessly to carry forward the country towards development through ensuring equal rights of men and women. She called upon all irrespective of gender to supplement the government's efforts to this end.