& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Women's rights activists seek state power

By Staff Correspondent
The crisis faced by the country's womenfolk will not be solved until women's rights activists come to state power
This was expressed by women s rights activists at a convention on 'Women and Politics Saturday.
We boastfully say that the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader in Parliament arc women but that has no effect on the welfare of the women as the leaders are pot very interested about it." two speakers at the convention said at the National Museum auditorium.
Another speaker said that women s participation tn Bangladesh politics was very poor but that ironically women were leading its two major political parties
"One had inherited her husband's charisma while the other her father's political fame, be added
When a politician either a man or a women comes to power, his or her attitude changes radically and he or she does not do any good for the womenfolk, speakers said adding that campaigners for women's rights should reach the controlling positions In state power to change the fate of women.
The 3-day convention Is organised by a research and study group. Women for Women' to mark its annual conference.
Four papers were read out at three sessions in the day while at least 20 speakers took part In the deliberations. The papers discussed the states of women in Bangladesh, their position tn politics and the problems and prospects of women rights establishments.
Dr Emajuddin Ahmed and Dr Talukder Moniruzzaman of the Dhaka University Political Science department and Dr Rehman Sob han, former adviser to the Acting President chaired the three sessions.
The papers were presented by Syeda Roushan Kadir, Director, Planning and Research, National Institute of Local Government, Dr Naima Chowdhury, Professor of DU Political Science department and President of 'Women for Women. Rashed Khan Menon MP, General Secretary of the Workers Party and Mcghna Gu hatha ku rata. Asstt, Professor of the International Relations department, DU.
The principal speakers on the parers were Dr AUur Rahman, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Dewi opment Studies (BIDS), Dr Shamsul Islam Khan, Asstt Pro! of the IR Department. DU, Dr Ahmed Kamal. Asstt Prof Department of History, DU and Ayesha Khanam. GS Bangladesh Mahlla Parisad.
Chief Whip of Parliament Deiwar Hossain, Begum Selina Rahman MP, Begum Farida Rahman MP, Mattya Chowd hury MP. Begum Ahsanullah MP took part In a round-table discussion on the occasion.
Politician Hazcra Khatun Dr Shasana Hossain of Rajshahl University History department. Womens rights campaigner Rakhi Das Purakayasta. Dtlara Ahmed Dilu, Kazi Sufla Akhter, Aynunnahar. and Dr Khurshid Begum of Rajshahl University Hamids Banu of Chittagong University and researcher Rahim Khan also discussed on the topic "women and politics."
Dr Rehman Sobhan said that before ensuring the posl Uon of women In politics we had to first evolve a way to bring them into politics
He suggested a 400 seat
parliament in which 100 scats would be reserved for women who would be directly elected by people's vote. Those women would be Independent candidates.
The country's women would have two votes — one for elect- • tng 300 general candidates and another for electing a female MP.
In Nepal, he said It was mandatory for political parties to nominate five per cent female candidates In any genera] election. Women's rights and power could be ensured In this way. he added.
Dr Emajuddin Ahmed said that there was a "structural constraint" in the politics of our country as only 12 per cent people, many of them belong to the elite class, had been dominating politics.
He also said that 27 of the 178 United Nations members countries had not yet provided voting rights to their women.
Dr Moniruzzaman also identified "structural constraint" as the main barriers for the women In our country.
Atlur Rahman said that women were systematically rc-‘pressed since their childhood and remained cornered for life
Farida Rahman said that sometimes women create pro bkms for women Interested In entering politics. The BNP had Its own programme for the welfare of the women, she added
Deiwar Hossain said that the gap between men and women has started narrowing and that the situation would improve in future.
Matlya Chowdhury said that no religion barred women from taking part in politics but some 'religion traders' give sermons to people against women politics
This group often changes Its opinion on the Issues and has extend unconditional support to a women leader
The commoners, however, do not find anything wrong with women In politics, she added
Opposition Leader in Par Hamont Sheikh Hasina will be the chief guest on the conclud ing session of the convention Sunday (today)