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October10,
2000
The Bangladesh Observer
Speakers
including lawmakers from both the treasury bench and the
opposition parties agreed on empowering women bringing a change
in the constitution.
Addressing
an international seminar on " Women in National Politics
" the speakers also urged the top leaders of the
major political parties to increase women's
representatives in national political parties to increase
women's representatives in national politics by
nominating more women in the next national
elections.
The
British council organized the day -long seminar at its
auditorium in the city on Monday. Chaired by Prof. Rehman Sobhab,
Chairman of the Center for Policy Dialogue. The seminar
was also attended, among others, by Suranjit Sen Gupta, advisor
to the Prime Minister on parliamentary affairs, BNP MP Dr,
Abdul Moyeen Khan, ruling party MP Dr, MS Akbar and Jatiya party
(M-M) MP Tasmima Hossain. Visiting two British Women
parliamentarians Baroness Paula Monjila Udddin and Ms Oono
King also addressed the seminar. Prof. Nazmunessa
presented a key note paper at the seminar.
Speaking
as main speaker, Suranjit Sen Gupta requested the opposition MPs
to return to the House once again for a single day
in the next session to pass the bill on women's reserve
seats, keeping this issue above the politics.
The
caretaker government will not be able to take such an important
decision on the women's seats since it is to be
amended by two thirds majority in the House, he
added.
Dr.
Abdul Moyeen Khan observed that the efforts to the
women's empowerment in parliament seemed to be a
paradox while both the Prime Minister and the Leader
of the Opposition are women in the country saying
holding of important seats by the women either in
government or in the Opposition not necessarily
empower the women.
To
empower women in national politics Moyeen Khan said the
major political parties must agree that they would give
nomination to a good number of women in the national
elections.
Tasmima
Hossain MP said that it is proved that women could
do better than others if they get the opportunities to
work and demanded direct elections for women in 64
districts instead of 30 reserved seats in the House. She
urged all the political parties to give at least 30 per
cent of its total nominations to the women candidates for
empowering women in national politics.
Visiting
British women parliamentarian Baroness Uddin said that
empowerment of women was the focal point of social progress and
empowerment of women was now inevitable in Bangladesh.
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