The three-day workshop titled 'Gender equality: A global challenge' was organised jointly by Khan Foundation and British High Commission at a city restaurant.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Moudud Ahmed attended the workshop as chief guest.

Moudud said there are constitutional laws to remove the gender disparity. Besides, the provision for 45 reserve seats for women in parliament would also encourage women leadership, he added.

The minister laid emphasis on social awareness to remove the disparity adding that women education can play an important role in this regard.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury said economic empowerment as well as the change of attitude and mindset are needed to eliminate gender disparity.

Mandana Hendessi, national commissioner of UK-based Women National Commission, presented a study result on the condition of women empowerment in global perspective.

She suggested political rights, capacity building programmes at grassroots level, education and a national commission for women for their political empowerment.

Dr Nusrat Amin of Dhaka University said nine laws were enacted in the country to prevent repression on women since 1980, but violence against them is not reduced.

She said seventy percent of the incidents of women repression are committed by their husbands.

Presided over by Advocate Rokhsana Khondker, executive director of Khan Foundation, the inaugural session of the workshop was participated by Katherine B Ward, visiting professor of Millennium University, and Millie Sen- Gupta, head of press and public affairs wing of the British High Commission.

Representatives of different NGOs, civil society members and university teachers attended the workshop.