Desk Report:
Whatever the political identity of the woman abuser and the rapist, he will be tried under the laws of Bangladesh and speedy trial will be ensured, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam. He said, in the past 17 years, every incident of female abuse and rape in the country has been given a political identity. But the woman abuser and rapist should not have any political identity. The current BNP government is determined that the rule of law will be established in this case. Whatever the political identity of the woman abuser and rapist, he will be tried under the laws of Bangladesh and speedy trial will be ensured.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs said these things at a discussion meeting organized by the National Press Club on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
The State Minister said, there are still many cases pending in the courts; and rapists are roaming around outside. We will strive so that not a single rapist can remain outside the justice system and cannot roam outside. Regarding political empowerment, he said, if women are to be politically empowered, it has to be done from the grassroots. The good position of 3-4 women at the national level does not ensure the real empowerment of women.
The State Minister said, as a political activist in the field, I can say that if women are given more opportunities in ward, union, upazila and district level elections, we will see more women representatives directly elected in the parliamentary elections.
Remembering former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with deep respect, the State Minister said, Begum Khaleda Zia wrote a brilliant epic in the history of women’s empowerment. Her visionary steps in expanding women’s education, the introduction of free primary education and scholarships for girls were a bold commitment to building the future of Bangladesh.
The State Minister mentioned that martyred President Ziaur Rahman was a unique pioneer of women’s social and economic empowerment. He said, as a result of Ziaur Rahman’s visionary policies, the garment industry of Bangladesh started its journey to a new horizon. Millions of women got the opportunity to enter the formal workplace for the first time.
In his speech, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs briefly outlined the current government’s action plan for women’s empowerment and welfare. He said that the new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is committed to ensuring women’s empowerment, equality and prosperity. For this purpose, unpaid postgraduate education programs will be launched for girls. At the same time, ‘Family Card’ and ‘Farmer Card’ programs are being launched to ensure the economic security of poor families, especially women.
Initiatives will be taken to ensure speedy trial to prevent online harassment, gender-based violence, rape, torture, acid attacks and trafficking of women and children. He said that steps are being taken to formally recognize the contribution of women in informal work, so that their essential role in the country’s GDP is fully reflected.
‘The current government is committed to ensuring the protection of the work and professional independence of media workers’, he said. He said that the government will play a proactive role for transparency of information, responsible and objective reporting and fair expression of public opinion. We want to ensure that every journalist independently reports the truth.
