Dhaka: Social Prevention Committee, a coordination of 67 women, human rights and development organizations, today demanded equal rights for women in all aspects including social, economic, political and decision-making process. They made the demand at a discussion programme held on the central Shaheed Minar premises in the capital this morning.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized under the slogan “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment” to mark International Women’s Day-2025. Speakers at the programme emphasized the need for equal rights and opportunities, the elimination of social and gender discrimination, and justice to empower women across the country.
Addressing the discussion session, women rights activist Nilufa Begum highlighted the challenges faced by women in the country. She urged people at all levels to ensure a supportive environment for women, noting the significant role women, particularly girl students, played in the July mass uprising last year. “We must show respect to the women community as they are equally contributing to different sectors of development,” she stated.
Dr. Fouzia, speaking as president, called on the interim government to ensure the smooth and safe movement of women. She declared a commitment to changing the social setting to ensure rights and dignity, emphasizing a refusal to tolerate any form of torture and discrimination.
The committee later announced a 14-point demand, which includes ensuring equal rights and dignity for women, formulating an anti-discrimination act for quick response, acknowledging women’s and housekeepers’ household work, increasing reserved seats for women in national parliament, and formulating a direct election system for those seats. Other demands include ensuring women’s participation in decision-making processes, implementing section no 90 of the Public Representation Ordinance, enforcing the Pornography Control Act 2012, ensuring safety and rights of immigrant women workers, revising sections related to the marriage age of girls from the Child Marriage Prohibition Act – 2017, and ensuring equal wages for women.