Barishal:Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram has advocated for the direct election of women to 100 parliamentary seats in Bangladesh, moving away from the current system of reserved seats. He expressed these views while serving as the chief guest at the centenary celebration of Barishal Government Girls' High School.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Speaker emphasized that to bolster women's political empowerment, it is crucial to provide them with opportunities to contest direct elections. He stated that women should have the opportunity to be directly elected through the people's votes, asserting that they are not lagging behind.
During his address, Hafiz Uddin acknowledged former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's role in promoting female education by introducing free education for girls up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level. He also mentioned plans to discuss with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman the feasibility of extending free education for girls up to the bachelor's degree level.
The Speaker also highlighted the historical significance of Barishal Government Girls' High School, noting that it was the site of the first secretariat of the Liberation War. He remarked that the institution's contributions to Bangladesh's Liberation War are notable and will be remembered in history.
The two-day centenary celebration was chaired by Barishal City Corporation Administrator and former student Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin. The event was attended by Barishal-5 MP Mazibar Rahman Sarwar, as well as former and current students of the school.