PM Sheikh Hasina for extending cooperation to female public representatives

"I hope that the BCS officials, who work at the local level, would give due attention so that elected female public representatives of local government bodies could perform properly the responsibilities reposed on them," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 5th founding anniversary function of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Women Network at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre here on Saturday afternoon.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique were present at the function as the special guests.

BCS Women Network President Suraiya Begum chaired the function, while its Secretary General Begum Nasrin Aktar delivered the welcome address.

Additional Inspector General of Police and Rector of the Police Staff College Fatema Begum and Assistant Commissioner of Comilla Farhana Jahan Upoma, who stood first in the 31st BCS exams, also spoke at the function.

The Premier also urged the female officials of the administration to work for building a "beautiful tomorrow" for the future generation.

"All will have to sacrifice their present for the brighter future of the next generation...we will have to work so that the children of the country could lead a peaceful and prosperous life, their lives must not experience turmoil like us," she said.

In this connection, the Prime Minister in an emotion charged voice reminisced Bangabandhu and said: "If I meet my father after death, at least I can tell him that I did these for your beloved people."

Sheikh Hasina also asked the civil servants to work with honesty and sincerity to implement the development programmes of the government to further speed up the country's advancement.

"You have to look after quick implementation of our development
projects. Through the implementation of those projects with honesty and sincerity you could advance the country towards prosperity quickly," the Prime Minister said.

The Premier expressed the hope that every member of the BCS Women Network would further dedicate themselves to the welfare of the country and nation.

"We would be able to establish Bangladesh as Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being united by all citizens irrespective of males and females, Insha Allah," she said.

Recalling the "dark days" that the people witnessed during the
destructive politics like killing and arson attacks perpetrated by the BNP-Jamaat nexus, Sheikh Hasina urged the civil servants to remain vigilant so that militancy and terrorism could not raise their heads in the country again.

"The people of the country don't want to see terrorism and militancy again...if it happens all our achievement would be destroyed," she added.

Talking about the development of the womenfolk of the country, the Prime Minister mentioned that it is not possible to have development in a society or country without developing the half of its population.

"Half of our population is women, a society cannot be developed if the half of the population remains out of uplift," she said.

Describing various programmes of the government for the development of the womenfolk of the country, Sheikh Hasina said that in 1997, the then Awami League government formulated the National Women Development Policy, but it was changed by the BNP government after 2001.

"In 2009, we formulated the Women Development Policy and made it clear that the government will never enact any law that goes against the holy Quran and Sunnah...but we have to ensure the rights of the women and the government has taken steps in this regard," she said.

Mentioning again that Islam is a religion of peace, Sheikh Hasina said that the first person who embraced Islam was a woman and the first person who sacrificed life for Islam was a woman.

She mentioned that Islam is the only religion in the world that ensured the rights of the women both from father's side and husband's side.

Sheikh Hasina said country's womenfolk contributed to all movements and struggles of the nation and they are performing equally like the males.

"Women are winning gold, silver and bronze in different international meets and conquering the Everest...they are displaying their excellent performance in football and cricket."

The Premier said the women of the country are now giving leadership in the national and international arena.

In this connection, she pointed out the strong position of the country's womenfolk in all sectors of the government including the Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Leader of the House, ministers, state ministers, the parliamentary standing committee chairpersons, judges, vice-chancellors, secretaries of the ministries, including the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), deputy commissioners and superintendents of police.

Besides, she said, the country's women have been demonstrating their efficiency in the army, navy, air force, police and Ansar. "Our women are working in the UN peacekeeping missions and they are also working in various development projects as consultants," she said.

Paying rich tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina said he constituted the "Women Rehabilitation Board" in 1972 for the rehabilitation and empowerment of the women who became victims during the Liberation War. "That was the start of institutional journey of women development in the country," she said.

The Prime Minister said following the footprints of Bangabandhu, her government always gave top priority to women development and announced the National Women Development Policy for the first time in 1997.

She said the government has framed the Domestic Violence (prevention and protection) Act 2010 and Domestic Violence (prevention and protection) Rules 2013, DNA Act 2014 for the welfare of the women.

Sheikh Hasina said maternity leave has been increased to six months, and maternity and lactating mother allowances were introduced for the poor mothers, adding the government is now formulating women sensitive budget in the ministries.

The Prime Minister requested all male members of a family to help the female members in their household works including cooking and cleaning of dishes.

Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a brief cultural function performed by the BCS Women Network members.