Cancel so-called review body, discard their proposals

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Samajik Protirodh Committee, an alliance of women’s rights organisations, yesterday demanded cancellation of the “so-called committee to review the National Women’s Development Policy” and urged the government to discard their recommendations.

There is nothing in the policy that goes against the constitution of the country and the policy is not only to protect the rights of women rather it involves the advancement of entire society, they said.

The women leaders demanded the government clarify its stand on the Women’s Development Policy, 2008 by issuing a press note and announce programmes to implement the policy.

During a press conference at the Begum Sufia Kamal auditorium at Bangladesh Mahila Parishad office, the leaders also demanded the chief adviser ban all political activities in religious institutions.

Reading out a memorandum already sent to the chief adviser, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Ayesha Khanam said the government should express their commitment regarding equal rights and equal participation of men and women in society which is guaranteed in the constitution.

“It is a matter of great concern that the government is yet to cancel the review committee despite repeated demands from the women and citizen community,” she said adding that the review committee recommended deleting 15 sections from the policy.

“When the whole nation is vocal on the issue of bringing the war criminals to book, the identified anti-liberation force is trying to oppose the constitution and basic principles of the country in the guise of opposing the Women Development Policy,” she added.

Wondering at how the “war criminals” could attack police violating the state of emergency and being indifferent to the country’s law, eminent writer and commentator Shahriar Kabir said the government has double standards.

The Khatib of Baitul Mukarram was responsible for the anarchic situation in front of the mosque a week ago, but instead of sacking him the government formed the review committee under his leadership, Shahriar said.

When the advisory body had finalised the policy then by dint of which law it was allowed to be reviewed, barrister Sara Hossain said adding that the nation should know under which regulation the review committee was formed and why the government is yet to take any steps against those who violated the state of emergency.

An adviser has been saying that the policy is suspended for the time being, but how can say so when the policy was finalised with the consent of the entire advisory body, the speakers questioned.

The speakers asked whether the government formulated the review committee headed by the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram, a government employee, and if that was the case, it needs to be explained how only a few advisers could opt to form the committee.

As the government did not allow the Samajik Protirodh Committee gather at the Central Shaheed Minar, the organisation held the press conference at the Begum Sufia Kamal auditorium where president of Bangladesh Mahila Samity Selina Khalek, Shirin Akhter of Karmajibi Nari, Ranjan Karmakar of Steps Towards Development, Dr Hamida Hossain of Ain O Shalish Kendra, Mamtaz Begum of Mahila Muktijoddha Sangshad, Kohinur Begum of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) also spoke.

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