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Equal participation of men, women needed for country's overall development: PM

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BSS

Publisted at 2:15 PM, Fri Mar 8th, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the  necessity of womenfolk's more engagement to the development process, saying  equal participation of both men and women is needed for the country's overall  development. 
 
"Today, if we have to progress economically further, women and men can build  the country equally with their labor because half of the society is women,"  she said while addressing a function marking the celebration of International  Women's Day.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs organised the function in the  city's Osmani Memorial auditorium where the Premier, as the chief guest, also  conferred "Best Joyeeta Award-2023" at the national level to five women as  recognition to attaining success in different fields by overcoming 
difficulties and challenges.

Mentioning the women as the half part of the society, Sheikh Hasina said if  the half of the society does not work then that society cannot stand and 
can't be advanced further.
 
"We can move forward only if men and women work equally. Today, we are  moving forward because we have ensured (women's participation) this," she added.

The Prime Minister said it is her optimism in this international women's day  that "Our women will never be left behind". 

Referring to ensuring the constitutional rights of women given by Father of  the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, also the  president of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League, said that her party is the  only political party in the country which has mentioned the equal rights of  men and women in its constitution and manifesto.

"Not, just for say, but Awami League has shown it when it came to power,"  she added.

The Premier said her government has created opportunities, but the womenfolk  should also come forward. "Don't stay at home. Because women do most of the  work in society." 

Mentioning a statistic which shows participation of women is 43 percent in  terms of labor, she noted that they (women) do more extra work even after  returning home from office which is not being calculated. 

This year, the best Joyeeta awardees are-- Anar Koli (economics), Kallyani  Minji (education and employment), Komoli Robi Dash (successful mother),  Jahanara Begum (repression prevention) and Pakhi Dutta Hijra (social  development).

With State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain Rimi in  the chair, Secretary of the Ministry Nazma Mobarek delivered the welcome  address.

On behalf of the Joyeeta Awardees, Kallyani Minji expressed her feelings  upon receiving the award.
 
Each of the awardees received a cheque of Taka one lakh, crest, and  certificate.

At the outset, a documentary on women and the activities of the Ministry of  Women and Children Affairs was screened.

"Joyeeta" (victorious), a woman who reaches the peak of success by  conquering all hurdles, means it is the symbolic name of a struggling and 
indomitable woman.

The government introduced the award to Joyeetas in five categories: the  women who achieved success economically, the women who earned success in  education and jobs, the successful mothers, the women who turned around by  wiping out the dark days of torture, and the women who contributed to social  development.

Referring to their announcement of building digital Bangladesh, the PM said: "We have built digital Bangladesh, and now our goal is to  build a Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Economy and Smart Society by  2041".
 
"If womenfolk are more involved in this journey of building a Smart  Bangladesh, then we can reach our desired goal faster," she added.
 
Sheikh Hasina also mentioned about the appointment of the country's first  female Superintendent of Police in Munshiganj district and recruitment of  females in the country's armed forces-- Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and  Bangladesh Air Force-- and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). 
 
Referring to the success of women in various fields, she said, "It doesn't happen (getting success) if women are not given the opportunities." 
 
"My father (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) always said that economic  emancipation of girls is the biggest freedom," the premier added.
 
She further said: "I can't but praise the work of the women where I have  appointed them . . . they have shown their greatest efficiency."
 
Highlighting the appointment of two women in the Asian Development Bank (ADB)  and the World Bank, Sheikh Hasina said: "The two women secretaries got the  opportunity to work for these organisations. I want to prove that Bangladeshi  women have the skills to work not only in the country but also at the  international level. We have come a long way since then," she added.

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