Government gives top priority to women’s safety: Prime Minister

Greeting and congratulating all women around the world on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the development of a country is sustainable only when women’s rights, education, health, security and participation are ensured. In this context, I think the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Today’s action, tomorrow’s justice, may the rights of women and girls be protected’ has become very significant.
He said these things in a message given on the occasion of International Women’s Day today, Sunday (March 8). Tarique Rahman said that almost half of the world’s population is women. Development is not possible if women are kept away from the mainstream of the state, government and politics. In particular, if women’s economic empowerment is not ensured, it is not possible to get the benefits of overall development outside the home.
Stating that former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia played a groundbreaking role in the political and economic empowerment of women in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said that during Zia’s regime, the Office of Women’s Affairs was established in the President’s Secretariat in 1976. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs was formed in 1978, which was later transformed into the ‘Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs’ in 1994 during the rule of Khaleda Zia.
She further said that Khaleda Zia had introduced free education for girls up to class 12 for the socio-economic empowerment of women. This was a revolutionary decision in women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Similarly, the current government has introduced ‘Paribas Card’ for women’s economic empowerment. The government is committed to ensuring the active and effective participation of women at all levels, including education, economy, health and politics.
In the message, the Prime Minister said, “Our goal is to introduce free education up to postgraduate level as part of the implementation of our election promises, increase women’s participation in higher education, provide free school uniforms for girls, expand digital education facilities and expand the modern education system. The government is giving utmost importance to ensuring the safety of women. The government has taken a strict stand to stop cyberbullying and online harassment against women.”
Tarique Rahman mentioned that his party BNP wants to build a Bangladesh where both men and women enjoy equal rights. The Prime Minister wished success to all the programs undertaken on the occasion of ‘International Women’s Day’.