Khaleda Zia Burning People for Gaining Her Political Ambition: PM

"The BNP chairperson is burning people to death by enforcing hartals and blockades to gain her political ambition. My question is that who has given rights to her (Begum Zia) to kill the people of the country by pouring petrol and hurling cocktails," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also said Begum Zia claims that she was the prime minister for three times and the opposition leader. "But it is a matter of regret that how a former prime minister and an opposition leader could burn people to death?" she said.

The Prime Minister said the politics is for the people and their welfare, not for burning them to death. But Begum Zia has been doing such misdeeds for over two months. "So I urge all including womenfolk of the country to be vocal and resist such brutality... it cannot be allowed anyway. Khaleda Zia must be punished for her heinous acts," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the inaugural function of the International Women's Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here. This year's theme of the day is "Empowerment of Women: Development of Women".

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs arranged the function with State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki in the chair.

It was addressed by Secretary of the ministry Tariq-ul Islam and Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund Argentina Matavel Piccin.

At the function, a documentary on overall development of the womenfolk of the country was screened.

Blasting the BNP chairperson for enforcing hartals and blockades day after day in the name of their so-called movement, the Prime Minister said the BNP chairperson is now not in the government or not in parliament. "She is now not anywhere for her wrong decision," Sheikh Hasina said.

The Prime Minister said Begum Zia had taken a decision not to participate in the January 5 polls. "And they made allout efforts to foil the election, but they could not succeed," she said.

Sheikh Hasina questioned that what type of movement the BNP chairperson is waging? "Begum Zia is killing people by pouring petrol and hurling cocktails by confining herself to her office after leaving her house. Could you imagine that how a pregnant woman or a child could be killed by pouring petrol or hurling bombs," she said.

The Prime Minister said the people irrespective of males, females and children are not being spared from the atrocities of the BNP-Jamaat nexus.

Stressing the need for creating social awareness about stopping anti-women propaganda, Sheikh Hasina called upon all including males and females to come forward and work together to this end.

"A section of people in the society wants to confine our women inside the house by misinterpreting the religion and making negative propaganda against the womenfolk," she regretted.

Terming women as the half of our population, the Prime Minister underscored the need for taking the country ahead with men and women together overcoming all hurdles. "Men and women should equally be developed in the society to ensure balanced development of a nation," she said.

Recalling various initiatives of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the independence of the country for the development of womenfolk, she said Bangabandhu government framed the constitution upholding the rights of country's women who also joined the War of Liberation with men.

Spelling out her government's various steps for the development of the womenfolk, the Prime Minister said whenever Awami League formed government, it worked for the welfare of the womenfolk.

"The Prime Minister, the Speaker, deputy leader of the House, the leader of the opposition and many judges, secretaries and vice-chancellors are now female due to the pro-women development policy of the Awami League-led government," she mentioned.

It was her government that had initiated effective programmes to develop women leadership in the rural level by creating three reserved seats in the union council election, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government implemented various programmes in the last six years for the development of the womenfolk including enactment of the National Women Development Policy-2011.

Describing Bangladesh's achievements of numerous awards including the South-South Award and the UNESCO "Peace Tree" award for women literacy, Sheikh Hasina said different countries and organizations including the United Nations are highly praising Bangladesh's tireless efforts for development of the womenfolk.

The Prime Minister said Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has been elected the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in huge votes, which is a rare honour for Bangladesh.

She said Bangladesh's position has been well strengthened thanks to the government's patronisation as well as work spirit, skill and sacrifice of the womenfolk of the country.

"The country's women are also shining Bangladesh's image in the international arena as they are efficiently performing their responsibilities in the UN Peacekeeping Missions," she said.

The Prime Minister said the government has enacted the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010, the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Rules 2013, the DNA Act 2014 and the National Work Plan to prevent violence against women and children.

"We have raised the maternity leave to six months and introduced maternity allowances and lactating mother allowances. We are now framing gender sensitive budget in the ministries," she said.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol