They said the four-party alliance government brought a drastic change in the policy in 2004 by making it simply ineffective for realising the goal of women's development.

The daylong seminar titled 'Necessity of restoring National Women's Development Policy 1997' was organised by rights-based NGO Association for Community Development (ACD) at Rajshahi Parjatan Motel.

Speaking as chief guest, eminent litterateur Prof Hasan Azizul Haque laid emphasis on the empowerment of women.

"Property is accumulated in the family by exploiting women's talent and strength, but they are deprived of their rights on property," he lamented.

Prof Haque said the women should have equal rights on property.

The keynote paper on 'The revised women's development policy 2004: a reflection of downward theory' was presented by Sadikur Rahman.

Rajshahi University teachers Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Dr Mahbuba Kanij and Dr Murshida Ferdous Habib took part in the discussion.

The speakers said all political parties should frame a unified development policy on women's development and must not change it for petty party interest.

With ACD Director Salima Sarwar in the chair, the seminar was attended by women's leaders, lawyers, journalists and NGO personalities.