Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka emphasised the need to change the country’s male-dominated political culture to ensure women’s empowerment in the country. The speakers affirmed that even though women’s participation has increased in various spheres of life, including in the public sector, they have not been empowered in a real sense.They said women’s empowerment is a political issue and recommended changes in the country’s male-dominated political culture. Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangha (BNPS) organised the seminar at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, with its executive director Rokeya Kabir chairing the event.
Prof. Ainun Nahar of Jahangirnagar University presented a keynote paper on the subject. The member secretary of the legal aid committee of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha, Shahidul Islam Nizami, Ain O Salish Kendra senior deputy director Rawshan Jahan Parvin, Abdullah Al Maruf, councillor Farhana Islam Doly, Sharifuzzaman Sharif and Shahnaj Sumi, among others, spoke at the discussion.
Rokeya Kabir claimed that women‘s empowerment is being achieved in a literal sense, but their true emancipation has remained unfulfilled. Women are being deprived of various fundamental rights including rights to education, health and housing, Rokeya Kabir alleged.