They also urged the government to take further measures to improve the quality of healthcare services in the country.

The meeting was organised by Bangladesh chapter of Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights at the Teachers Students Centre of Dhaka University (DU).

A paper on 'Health sector reforms: Hazards to women's health', prepared jointly by Runa Laila, assistant professor of women studies department, Moumita Tanjeela, assistant director of DWA, and Mohammad Shahid Ullah, was placed at the meeting.

The paper recommended shifting of health services from public to private sector and introduction of health insurance schemes for providing better healthcare services to the people.

It said excluding sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality rate in Bangladesh is the highest in the world. Of the total maternal deaths, 21 percent is caused by unsafe abortion and 14 percent due to violence.

The paper said 52 percent women are malnourished that creates additional problems during pregnancy and childbirth.

It said 35 percent of urban women and 16 percent of rural women get health facilities during delivery.

Dr Mahbuba Nasrin, associate professor of sociology and Shamima Pervin, research co-ordinator of UNFPA, took part in the discussion.