DHAKA, March 11, 2021 (BSS) – Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury today said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created scopes and favorable conditions in workplace for women to include them in the mainstream of development.
“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has formulated the basic legal framework for gender equality. Her worthy daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has taken steps like the National Women’s Development Policy of 1996, inclusion of mother’s name in the passport, granting citizenship to the child through the mother, etc., which outlines the economic, social and overall development of women,” she said.
The Speaker was addressing as the chief guest at the virtual seminar (Webinar) organized by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) marking the International Women’s Day 2021, said a release.
Dr Shirin said that the Commonwealth recently conferred the Inspirational Leadership Award on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her outstanding leadership during the Covid period, which is a source of pride for the entire nation.
“In the fifty years of independence, great progress has been made in women’s education. The participation of girls in schools and higher education in remote areas has also increased,” Dr Shirin added.
“Women have secured today’s position by overcoming many obstacles. They are now working successfully as small and medium entrepreneurs… In fact, eighty percent of the workers in the garment factories are women,” she said.
Dr Shirin said that legal changes are needed to ensure women’s participation in each case.
She called upon all to cooperate through innovative processes to ensure a positive working environment for women, establishment of an egalitarian society and greater participation of women in the labor market.
The function was presided over by Prof. Dr. Ayesha Akhtar, Department of Civil Engineering, CUET.
ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, Vice-Chancellor of CUET spoke as special guests at the function.