Rejecting the amendments to the policy, they said the government has brought changes to the fundamental aspects of the policy, curbing the rights of the women.

Amendments were brought to the policy in May 2004, deleting several provisions such as direct election to the parliamentary seats reserved for women and equal rights to employment, business, economic activities and inheritance, they said at a view exchange meeting in the city.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the programme, with its President Hena Das in the chair.

How is it possible to ensure gender equality and guarantee the principle of non-discrimination without equal rights to power and economic resource and equal effective representation at the highest policy-making level? asked Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of BMP.

Shirin Akhter, president of Karmojibi Nari, said the government is always talking about women's empowerment and on the other hand, it is imposing restriction on women's participation in politics and administration.

With the help of the extremist forces, the government amended the policy mysteriously without involving the officials, said the speakers.

They said the government has offset all the achievements of the country and undermine the spirit of the liberation war through such an act.

The government is also trying to gradually suppress the protests by women by framing different policy in a planned way, said Sultana Kamal.

The speakers called on the rights organisations to carry on tough movement against the amended policy.

Farida Akhtar of Sammilita Nari Samaj, Hamida Hossain of Ain O Shalish Kendra, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, editor of the Sangbad, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Bangladesh Observer, Sohrab Hossain, associate editor of the Jugantor, Prof Mamtaz Begum, Rasheda K Chowdhury, Mahmuda Khatun and Zakia K Hasan of Norwegian embassy also spoke.