Former adviser to the caretaker government Advocate Sultana Kamal said this at the Nasreen Huq Memorial Lecture on 'Women, patriarchy and the dream of a repression-free society' at National Museum auditorium in the city yesterday.

Today is the first death anniversary of Nasreen Huq, a social activist and country director of ActionAid.

Nasreen dreamt of a society free from oppression and inequality and challenged patriarchy through her activities, Sultana Kamal said.

Patriarchy has attributed a particular shape and characteristics on women and it always tries to ensure superiority of men in every sphere of life. It aims to expand male dominance and to protect their controlling power that victimises women most, the memorial speech reflected.

Equity in the real sense speaks of equal rights and dignity irrespective of gender, caste or religion, whereas patriarchy gives men the right to control women in every case.

"Although women empowerment is a much-talked issue now-a-days, women are yet to have the control over their income and to take decision on how they would use it," said the former adviser, adding that women's right to inherit property is yet to be established in this patriarchal society.

Prof Serajul Islam said power lies in a patriarchal system based on dominance and absolute supremacy. The capitalist system is also patriarchal where women are neglected, insulted and sometimes treated as commodities.

"And so the women leaders even in the country are seen possessing patriarchal attitude," he said adding that we could not sustain the spirit and dreams of the War of Liberation that was aimed at achieving real freedom of all and so, are still living in nightmare.

"The leadership is accountable for this," he blamed the leaders and said freedom of women could be measured on whether the society is enjoying freedom or not.

Nasreen Huq also fought against globalisation that is taking toll in the developing countries, the speakers said, adding that her thoughts and dreams should be spread among the next generation.

Prof Mesbah Kamal moderated the programme while Prof HKS Arefin and ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Shoyeb Siddiki spoke.