Women empowerment for dev of humanity stressed

The International Women’s Day was observed in different districts in befitting manner on Sunday. Different organisations chalked out programmes to observe the Day. Our Correspondents and agencies report:
Barisal Correspondent reports: Habiba Aktar Marufa, 14, victim of child-marriage and tortured by police official appearing before the Women-Day celebration programme appealed for justice and secured shelter on Sunday.
The programme was jointly organised by the district administration and women affairs directorate in collaboration with government and non-government development organisations at Barisal Ashwini Kumar Hall of the city.
Shohidul Alam deputy commissioner Barisal presided over the programme, addressed among others by Jebunnessa Afroj, AL lawmaker, Md. Gaus, divisional commissioner, Kazi Hosneara Begum, additional district magistrate, Rashida Begum, district women affairs officer, Puspa Chakraborty, secretary Mohila Parishad, Dr. Syed Habibur Rahman, Rahima Sultana Kajal, Anwar Zahid, Mousumi Jahan, Jhumu Karmakar, NGO organisers.
Class-eight student Habiba, 14, rescued from locked house of police Sub Inspector Warres, 40, in front of Kawnia police station of the city on March 5, appealed for safe secured shelter and justice from the participants, journalists, right activists and organisers of the Women Day celebration programes.
In the birth registration certificate issued on February 28, 2012 by Dhaka South City Corporation bearing no. 20022692002012669 shown that my birth date was November 11, 2002, Habiba said.
However SI Warres managed to get marriage certificate (Nikah Nama) from Mawlana Abu Taher, marriage register at Puranpara marriage registry office (Ba/Ma/page-37/dated 15-8-1014) of the city to marry me, Habiba told.
It that Nikah Nama it was shown that the marriage with SI Wares was done by Mawlana Kawsar Hossain and it was registered on August 15, 2013. In that marriage certificate date of births of SI Wares and Habiba were shown as April-4, 1974 and July7, 1995 respectively.
Minor aged Habiba as wife of SI Wares also treated for physical torture at female surgery unit of Barisal Sher E Bangla Medical College Hospital on June 12-16, 2014.
Habiba breaking in to tears in the programme and talking the journalists said she and her mother felling insecure and under tremendous pressure from different corners.
Pregnant Habiba appealing before the officials, law enforcing agencies, judiciary, women rights and voluntary organizations said that as she was forcibly married under aged and tortured by police official, so need help for ensuring safety and security of her, carrying child and her mother.
Advocate Munira Begum, divisional head of Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association, said they acted on basis of the allegation submitted by Mahmuda Begum, mother of the victim.
Thakurgaon Correspondent reports: Speakers at a discussion stressed for ensuring equal rights of the women for their empowerment through rooting out gender disparity for development of the society as well as humanity as a whole on Sunday .
They were addressing the post-rally discussion jointly organised by the district administration and Department of Women Affairs (DWA) at the DWA office in the district town in observance of the International Women’s Day- 2015.
RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, extended assistance in observing the day under its Improving Food Security Governance in South & Southeast Asia through Strengthened Participation of Organisations of Marginalised Farmers Regional Project.
The five-year term regional project is being implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Myanmar to improve livelihood of 10.20 lakh marginalised households, including ethnic communities, with assistance of European Union and Dan Church Aid.
Earlier, 690 male and female members of Balia, Debipur and Jagannathpur Union Federations along with government and NGO officials, teachers, students, civil society members, professionals, women leaders and elite participated in the colourful rally.
Member of the Parliament Selina Jahan Lita attended the discussion as the chief guest with Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas in the chair.
Police Super of Thakurgaon Abdur Rahim Shah attended as the special guest.
District Women Affairs Officer Morshed Ali Khan, Project Manager of Food Security Governance Project of RDRS Bangladesh for Thakurgaon Mahfuz Alam and its Agriculture Officer Mahfuzur Rahman also addressed the discussion.
The speakers put emphasis on changing the social mindset to guarantee full advantages for womenfolk in flourishing their talent, leadership and equal rights at family level decision-making process through eradicating gender disparity.
They expressed deep gratitude to the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking various steps in establishing equal women rights and ensuring security for enhancing dignity and honour of the womenfolk in the society.
Without ensuring equal rights of the women, sustainable national development could not be achieved to make independence meaningful for every citizen as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, they said.
The chief guest stressed for ending repression and violence against women to ensure their emancipation in development, governance, politics, economy and policy making for building a middle income Digital Bangladesh free from gender discrimination.
Noakhali Correspondent reports: In Noakhali, the International Women’s Day has been celebrated with 2 days programs. All GO-NGOs organisations and high officials attended rally and human chain organised by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) with festive mood in front of Muktho Monch.
The Rally was inaugurated by the Executive Engineer, LGED, Noakhali M.A Sattar.
After the rally a seminar was held at LGED conference room. The title of the seminar was “Empowering Women-Empowering Humanity”. The seminar chaired by the Executive Engineer LGED, Noakhali. Starting the programme Ms. Parvin Labour Leader recites dua from Holly Quran.
The speakers were SM Rafeul Islam, AE, LGED, Md Anisur Rahman, Training Coordinator, CCAP Danida, Ms. Nasrin Akter, Asst. Human Rights & Gender Specialist, Afroza Akter LCS Officer and Leela Yeasmin, Training Office, LGED .
Netrakona Correspondent says: Speakers at a discussion meeting on ‘women empowerment’ here today underlined the need for establishing rights of women and ensuring women empowerment at all tiers of the society.
All of us irrespective of cast, creed and religion should play our respective roles for ensuring women empowerment, their equal rights and opportunities to free our society from the curse of gender discrimination as well as upholding the human rights, the speakers said while they addressing the meeting at local public hall.
Netrakona district administration and district women affairs department jointly organized the meeting to mark the International Women’s Day.
Deputy commissioner Netrakona Dr. Torun Kanti Shikder addressed the meeting as the chief guest while district women affairs officer Ferdousy Begum was in the chair.
The meeting was addressed, among others, by additional deputy commissioner (general) Netrakona Abdur Rahim, additional police super Netrakona Abdul Mumen, upazila Nirbahi officer of Netrakona sader upazila parishad Mustari Kaderi, general secretary of district Mohila parishad Rehena Siddiqui and joint secretary of the district Mohila Parishad Taheza Khatun.
Earlier, a colourful rally of women was brought out in the district town here today under the auspices of district administration and district women affairs department marking the International Women’s Day.
BSS from Rajshahi reports: Calling upon all quarters to free the womenfolk from all sorts of violence, disparity and discrimination, various government and non-government development organisations today observed the International Women’s Day in the city and its adjacent areas befittingly.
Marking the day, district administration and women affairs department brought out a colorful rally from C&B Crossing and paraded the city streets before participating in a discussion held at Shishu Academy conference hall with Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury in the chair.
Various other organisations jointly brought out a huge procession from Alupatti crossing and paraded some of the city thoroughfares carrying banners and festoons before terminating at the same crossing.
Besides, another rally from the city’s Alupatti crossing drew attention of the pedestrians and many other people. After the rally, they held a discussion at the same venue.
The speakers said gender balance is the pre-condition to substantial and sustainable progress of the nation and that is very important in the present context of the national economy.
They also emphasized the need for freeing society from gender discriminations to establish a non-discriminatory and equitable society for taking the nation forward successfully.
Marking the day various other government and non-government development organisations including Rajshahi Cdity Corporation, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Association for Community Development (ACD), Committee for the Conscious Citizens (CCC), Barendra Unnayan Forum, Barendra Unnayan Prochesta, BRAC and ASSEDO also observed the day through separate programs including rally and discussion.
BSS from Rangpur adds: The International Women’s Day- 2015 was observed here today with a fresh vow for ensuring equal rights of the women and their enhanced participation in development and policy-making activities at all levels.
Speakers at separate discussions arranged on the occasion stressed ending violence against women to ensure emancipation of the women in development, economy, politics, governance, different professions and every sector for building a prosperous nation.The district administration, Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA) in association with the other government departments, NGOs, socio-cultural and professional organisations and bodies chalked out elaborate daylong programmes in observance of the day.
The programmes included colourful rallies— participated by hundreds of women, girls, adolescents, students from different educational institutions, NGO activists, officials and employees— seminars, special fair, lighting candle, discussions and cultural functions.
The district administration, DWA and dozens of NGOs, development and donor organisations including CARE Bangladesh organised a colourful rally that paraded the streets of the divisional city with placards, banners, posters and festoons.
BSS from Chaudanga adds: The International Women’s day was observed here today in a befitting manner.
To mark the day, Chaudanga district women’s affairs department organized different programme including procession and discussion.
The discussion was held at the conference room of the deputy commissioner.
Deputy Commissioner Delwar Hossain addressed the meeting as the chief guest with women’s affairs officer Afroza Khatun in the chair.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mollick Syed Mahbub, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and Information Technology) Abdur Razzak were present as special guests.