"Unity of all forces and individuals, the way we fought together for independence in 1971, is now the call of the hour to make independence meaningful and reach its benefits to all," she said.

The prime minister was addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of Asian University for Women (AUW) here. Asian University for Women Support Foundation, one of the sponsors of the project, estimates the construction and operational cost of the university at $100 million.

The government has already provided nearly 104 acres of land in the hilly terrain of Chittagong for the purpose. More land is likely to be acquired, sources said.

Education Minister M Osman Farruk, Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, Chairman of the US Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh Joseph Crowley, Member of the Board of Directors of Asian University for Women Support Foundation Dr William Newton Smith and Senior Advisor for Campus Master-planning and Designing for the AUW Dr Elizabeth Dean Hermann also spoke.

Ministers, MPs, the elite including a large number of academics, diplomats and US Ambassador in Dhaka Harry K Thomas attended the function.

The prime minister in her speech called it an historic event not only for the women of Bangladesh but also for the women of Asia where about 60 percent

of the world's poor, most of whom are women, live.

"Most of these women lack proper education and also have inadequate access to higher education," she said.

The prime minister said: "I am happy that the government has been able to provide a home for the unique institution in Bangladesh".

Pointing out that knowledge has become the driving force behind socio-economic development, she said the generation and dissemination of knowledge must ensure that there is no discrimination based on gender.

Referring to the Bangladesh situation where women constitute nearly 50 percent of the population, Khaleda said no nation can make progress with half of its population being treated as inferior to the other half.

The prime minister said the government is making sustained efforts to address the problems of gender inequities and to bring women in the mainstream of national life.

She mentioned her government's programmes like free education for girls up to higher secondary level and monthly stipend. She also acknowledged the assistance and cooperation from the development partners in this regard.

"Young girls in rural areas no longer suffer from the feeling of being neglected by their families and look forward to a future full of possibilities and promises and to a life of dignity and self-esteem," she told her audience.

She expressed the hope that the Asian University for Women would be truly international in scope, promote cross-cultural understanding, with respect for and nurturing of cultural diversities of the students of different religions, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

She hoped that the institution would soon emerge as a centre of excellence.