'Don't treat us as ornaments in parliament'
Women's rights activists reject ruling party's proposal for 45 women MPs, demand direct election
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha.
Women's rights activists yesterday rejected the ruling party's proposal to raise the number of women members of parliament to 45 and demanded direct election for women representatives.They also demanded a "local number of seats" for women in parliament, to be elected by people. "We don't want to be ornaments in parliament, we like to be elected by people", said Anjum Naheed Chowdhury, Programme Manager of Gano Unnayan Kendro. The activists were addressing a press conference at Gaibandha Press Club, jointly organised by some NGOs here. It was also addressed by Shireen Akhter Liza, Associate Programme Officer of Gaibandha Unnayan Network and Jaharul Kaiyme, Convenor of Samajik Uddokta Dal. Representatives of Steps Towards Development also attended the press conference. The NGOs later on the day organised a human chain in the town. Anjum Naheed claimed that the two major political parties promised direct election of women members of parliament through people's vote. But once in power, they forget their commitment and try to utilise women members in parliament to retain power, she said. She castigated the ruling BNP for its proposal to place a bill in parliament to raise the number of women MPs to 45. "It is for retaining power only as the 45 women members will be distributed among parties as per their strength (in parliament). "It is a mockery of women's rights", she said. Shireen Akhter said the womenfolk in Bangladesh is being deprived in every field. They become victims of violence but they can not raise their voice as they are not elected by people and their number is few in parliament. She asserted that if direct election for women parliament members is allowed, the number will increase many times than it is now. It is a political decision to be taken by the political parties, she added. Once their number increases in parliament, their voices will be louder and much of the social curse will disappear, she said. This will also hasten social and economic development. The speakers termed selection of women members of parliament an insult to the women community. Huge amounts of money is being spent in budgets for women's education. But this has little impact on women's empowerment, they said.
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