Equal rights for females must for development
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called for establishing equal rights of males and females, saying that no society could advance if half of the society is left behind in the process of development.
She made the call while inaugurating Begum Rokeya Day and distributing Begum Rokeya Padak-2014 in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The prime minister handed over Begum Rokeya medals to Prof Mamtaz Begum, chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha, and social worker Golap Banu, founder of Baridhara Mohila Samabaya Samity in Dhaka, for their contribution in spreading female education, establishing women's rights and socio-economic development of the helpless and poor women.
She expressed her firm optimism that no girl would be deprived of education as her government has taken various steps for ensuring female education to materialise the dream of Begum Rokeya. "I hope that by the grace of Allah, no such a situation in the country will exist in future that any girl will be left out from education. Every girl would be educated," she said.
Hasina said Begum Rokeya had a dream that the neglected women are educated and made self-reliant. "Her dream was mostly materialised. She remains alive and would remain alive in the hearts of every educated woman," she said.
She said the government has given priority to women participation in state policy, projects and programmes and female education.
"Today, the country's prime minister, the opposition leader and Speaker of parliament all are women and there is a strong presence of females in cabinet, administration, army, navy and air force, judiciary, police and other posts," said the premier.
The women and children affairs ministry organised the function with its state minister Meher Afroze Chumki in the chair.
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