Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday hoped that the observance of the International Year of Family would help cement amity among the members of the family towards building a happy and prosperous family as well as the society, reports BSS.

In a message on the occasion, she said through the observance of the year it would be possible to make each member of the family conscious about his or her duty, responsibility and rights.

All preparations have been taken to observe today the International Year of Family. 1994 in Bangladesh.

The objectives of the year is to ensure equity between man and woman, rearing the children properly and ensure their safety, take care of the old and retarded members of the family and ensure their basic demands. Begum Zia said.

The Prime Minister said intense economic pressure and social evolution had brought changes in the traditional System and customs of the families and the nuclear family', based on wife and husband, son and daughter, had occupied its place.

In such a 'nuclear family' the ■ members Tike mother, father, brother and sister are not given proper attention, Begum Zia said artd added that as a result the bond of cordiality among the members of the family is lessening. Whereas, she said the family is the abode of peace and the base of the society.

The Prime Minister said despite resource constraint her government had taken various programmes for poverty alleviation and tjie socio-economic development encompassing the families and their members.