Speaker proposes direct polls for women in 100 JS seats

Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram has proposed allowing women to contest direct elections in 100 parliamentary constituencies, saying they should not have to rely solely on reserved seats for representation.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the centenary celebration of Barishal Government Girls’ High School on Friday.

The Speaker said direct elections would provide women with greater opportunities for political empowerment.

“Women should be given the opportunity to be directly elected through people’s votes in 100 seats, as they are in no way behind,” he said.

Speaking about female education, Hafiz Uddin credited former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with taking significant steps to expand educational opportunities for girls, including introducing free education up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level.

He said he would discuss with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman the possibility of extending free education for girls up to the bachelor’s degree level.

Recalling the historical importance of the school, the Speaker said the first secretariat of the Liberation War had been established on its premises.

He said the institution had made an important contribution to the country’s Liberation War and that its role would remain part of Bangladesh’s history.

The two-day centenary celebration was chaired by Barishal City Corporation Administrator and former student of the school Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin.

Barishal-5 lawmaker Mazibar Rahman Sarwar, along with current and former students of the institution, attended the programme.