Women�s empowerment

Women have proved their mettle in administrative, police and other cadre services and the armed forces as well

It is gratifying to note that the women of the country have made significant contributions in matters of development during the last few decades. Their exposure to the different sectors of life, particularly the RMG industry, has opened up a wide avenue for them. The speakers at a discussion meeting in Rangpur said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina puts maximum emphasis on socioeconomic and political empowerment of the womenfolk to ensure their enhanced participations in building a middle income Bangladesh, according to a report in this newspaper recently.   
Women constitute half of the total population of the country; they are going ahead defying various challenges confronting them. Women have proved their mettle in administrative, police and other cadre services and the armed forces as well. This is an encouraging sign. Yet women’s representation in decision making, managerial and key positions is not that much satisfactory.  This setback has to be addressed.  Besides, there is lack of security of women workers in different work places. A huge number of women who are going abroad, particularly the Middle East countries, as domestic workers are becoming victims of repression at the hands of the employers. It is the responsibility of the government to look into the matter with due urgency. Besides, the threat posed by fun­da­mentalist and forces of bigotry against women empowerment is yet another menace facing the women community.     
   Scores of women are suffering due to violence perpetrated on them by their male counterparts. Vast womenfolk in rural areas of the country are still leading sub-human life due to poverty, illiteracy, curse of early marriage, pangs of premature motherhood and dowry. Women are also suffering immensely due to gender discrimination in certain sectors. All these issues warrant remedy.  The incumbents have done a lot for the improvement of the lot of women. Much more should be done. The unemployed educated young women should be imparted training on computer operating and ICT throughout the country for expanding their job opportunities. In this way an acute unemployment problem facing them can be solved. Small women entrepreneurs should be provided with loans on easy terms and conditions.  If it is done they can contribute positively to GDP growth. For achieving the MDG there is no alternative to empowerment of women. 

Women�s empowerment

Women have proved their mettle in administrative, police and other cadre services and the armed forces as well

It is gratifying to note that the women of the country have made significant contributions in matters of development during the last few decades. Their exposure to the different sectors of life, particularly the RMG industry, has opened up a wide avenue for them. The speakers at a discussion meeting in Rangpur said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina puts maximum emphasis on socioeconomic and political empowerment of the womenfolk to ensure their enhanced participations in building a middle income Bangladesh, according to a report in this newspaper recently. Women constitute half of the total population of the country; they are going ahead defying various challenges confronting them. Women have proved their mettle in administrative, police and other cadre services and the armed forces as well. This is an encouraging sign. Yet womens representation in decision making, managerial and key positions is not that much satisfactory. This setback has to be addressed. Besides, there is lack of security of women workers in different work places. A huge number of women who are going abroad, particularly the Middle East countries, as domestic workers are becoming victims of repression at the hands of the employers. It is the responsibility of the government to look into the matter with due urgency. Besides, the threat posed by fundamentalist and forces of bigotry against women empowerment is yet another menace facing the women community. Scores of women are suffering due to violence perpetrated on them by their male counterparts. Vast womenfolk in rural areas of the country are still leading sub-human life due to poverty, illiteracy, curse of early marriage, pangs of premature motherhood and dowry. Women are also suffering immensely due to gender discrimination in certain sectors. All these issues warrant remedy. The incumbents have done a lot for the improvement of the lot of women. Much more should be done. The unemployed educated young women should be imparted training on computer operating and ICT throughout the country for expanding their job opportunities. In this way an acute unemployment problem facing them can be solved. Small women entrepreneurs should be provided with loans on easy terms and conditions. If it is done they can contribute positively to GDP growth. For achieving the MDG there is no alternative to empowerment of women.