Bangladesh: Gender Equality For Socio-Economic Development Underscored

Women leaders here have advocated for establishing gender equality with a view to developing women leadership for changing their conditions to ensure overall and uniform socio-economic and national development.

They also said that it would not be possible to make a hunger-free, self-reliant and developed Bangladesh without ensuring emancipation of women in the mainstream national development activities side by side with the men.

The views were expressed in the fourth conference for the grassroots level women leaders of Sadar upazila, jointly organised by Grassroots Women Leaders Network (GWLN) and Nagorik Uddog at Rangpur Town Hall auditorium on Thursday.

The conference was participated by over 200 grassroots level women community leaders from Sadar upazila in the district, officials, NGO activists, elite, professionals and journalists.

Presided over by President of GWLN and eminent women leader Sanjis Ara Baten, the conference was attended by Additional District Magistrate M Faruk Hossain as the chief guest.

Deputy Director of District Women’s Affairs Department Shameem Ara Begum, District Information Officer Abu Bakar Siddique, Upazila Social Service Officer Mosaddekur Rahman, noted women community leaders Marhamatun Nesa and Advocate Shameema Akhter Shirin were present as special guests.

Advocate Tazul Islam, chairman of Tapodhan, Rajendrapur and Porshuram UPs, women community leaders Aleara Begum, Anjuman Ara Begum, Romiza Begum, educationists, upazila level officials, executives of Nagorik Uddog and other organisations, addressed the conference.

The speakers appreciated the role of GWLN throughout the district including the most backward upazilas, in curbing the social curses like dowry, child marriage and repression on women and children through conducting their huge motivational and awareness building activities.

They also appreciated different initiatives taken by the GWLN in stopping dozens of child marriages, resolving dowry-related sequels and arranging a number of dowry-free marriages at proper age in the district in recent times.

Source: The New Nation – 28 March 2008