Today is the 37th foundation day of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. This event is very significant and important for a section of people who arc disadvantaged and lagging behind politically and economically for more than three and a half decade. Today if we review what our achievements and struggles arc in all those 37 years, and if wc look back at the struggles of the 70s, 80s and 90s and also that of the new millennium, we shall find that in every decade there arc some significant national and international characteristics of all these movements and their outcomes. Policies that wc have carved out through our struggle for freedom and liberation war, the policies that wc had incorporated in the constitution of 1972 as core national values; arc the main proclamation of Mahila Parishad since its inception. On 4 April, 1970 we started our journey with the aim of establishing a secular, democratic state with equal rights for men and women, a state of humanitarian culture, where there will be equal footing for all human souls, an equal and mutually respectful environment for both men and women. This declaration of Mahila Parishad has a unity with the basic proclamation of 1972 constitution. The women have actively participated in our freedom fights. Mahila Parishad was established in the 1970, just before the start of our. liberation war, and since then, there were mass mobilization of women, direct and indirect participation of women in various national movements. People from all strata of national life actively joined the liberation war in which women played a forceful and major role. This historical struggle is a milestone event in the annals of hundreds years of our history. Women have impregnated themselves with such historical events to establish their rights, honour and also have combined their movements- with the main stream of national movements. In the post-liberated Bangladesh there was the task of reconstruction, elimination of the discrimination in education, culture and society, to establish women in the main stream of state administration for national economic advancement, to stop violence against women, to ascertain a respectful position for women within family set-up Mahila Parishad has been working relentlessly. This means through our struggle for independence Mahila Parishad has started its journey as a strong social force.

In this three and a half decade time period, Mahila Parishad has persistently worked for creating a wider scope in the lives of women, to ascertain the democratic rights of women and to set up women in a strong and active position in the main stream of state administration. Despite some shortcomings, Mahila Parishad is the icon of a national movement. Mahila Parishad is a powerful voice of common women in our society. The synonym of the movement that fights for establishing the privileges of women who are poor farmers and workers is called Mahila Parishad. From the decade of 80s Mahila Parishad is actively creating public opinion against dowry, building mass awareness, conducting thoughtful research and staging various movements and struggles with a view of passing an anti-dowry act in the parliament. If wc briefly review the struggle of three and a half decade movement, we shall observe that till 2007 we have led the movements for establishing women rights, for stopping violence against women, to institute equal rights between men and women in the family, from the guardianship of children to establish their citizen rights, their role as a mother and women and moreover, to establish individual rights of women. In independent Bangladesh, for establishing the rights and to change their providence, for uplifting women causes irrespective of their caste, creed and religion Mahila Parishad has taken multitudes of initiatives and programs

Throughout the entire decade of 1980, Mahila Parishad has moved forward with definite programs with a view of stopping oppression against women and raising social consciousness on collective suppression against women in society. We have created social action committee for the rehabilitation of women who had been the victims of oppression, various discrimination and endless tortures and, at the same time, we have undertaken various programs and action plans to bring those helpless souls back to the main stream of normal life. With this objective in mind Mahila Parishad has established a shelter, a rehabilitation centre, named ’Rokeya Sudan' in a small scale. For example, if a woman is isolated from her family and society and becomes victim of torture, she can take refuge for a while in this shelter and gain the courage to return to normal life. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has also taken initiatives and concrete steps to provide humanitarian and legal assistance to a victim, so that, she can resume normal life and establish her in society with a new dream and aspiration.

It may not be something comparable to Begum Rokeya’s Tarini Bhaban, but in the same ideology and spirit of Tarini Bhaban we have tried to bring back the rootless and isolated women to normal life through our multi-dimensional activities (for example, women movement, social resistance, mental treatment, legal advice, humanitarian assistance, running Rokeya Sudan) wc are continuing our efforts. While creating

movement to stop violence against women we have experienced that all existing laws arc unfair and biased against women; these laws embodies the outlook and philosophy of patriarchal society where men and women are not viewed equally, where woman is dependent on man and where society has a pitiful notion towards women. In the book The Second Sex' written by Simon De Bower, wc have seen women are in second position in society. By giving women equal rights and by eliminating the differences, we started the law reform movement. Women related issues like marriage, divorce, custody of children and distribution of property to women, equal rights to women of all religion, caste and creed have been incorporated in (he Universal Family code or family policy. One of the strength of Mahila Parishad is, form its birth, it has received the cooperation of all conscious, educated and progressive people of the country. The conscious lawyers of the country, the enlightened teachers and intellectuals and guardians have supported our cause immensely and without raising any question. Wc arc continuing the movement for reforms of existing laws, If we observe closely the anti-dowry law of the 80, the law stopping violence against women which hav^ been passed in 1993 and, later on, family courts where taking legal steps to resolve disputes between husband and wife and much later the reforms of all laws to curb violence and oppression against women and passing of a complete law Mahila Parishad is working continuously on its agenda. A comprehensive legal system that views men and women with equal notion, laws that would strike at the very root of patriarchic laws, create a level ground for women where a woman can establish herself as a mother, a guardian and an individual in society. She will enjoy equal rights of a citizen. The 37 years struggle of Mahila Parishad is the struggle to change the outmoded values of society. To bring a radical change in the existing laws of society Mahila Parishad is, for example, trying to bring a reform of the law, establish equal rights for men and women in education policy, to include topics that foster equal rights of men and women in the curricula and syllabi of schools and colleges. Women leaders like Begum Rokeya in the East and Simon De Bovver, Mary Olstone Craft, Clara Jetkins in the West have historically worked for the emancipation of women, for their establishment in society based on equal rights. In the whole world - in Europe, America, Germany, France and England -where ideology for establishing a society based on equal rights of men and women has been promoted. In this subcontinent Begum Rokeya, Raja Ram Mohon Roy, Ishwar Chandra Viddyasagar and many other Bangalis who were the social reformers created new awareness. Today we hold the same thoughts and philosophies advanced by those great thinkers for establishing equality between men and women and to bring women on the main stream of stale mechanism. Wc call upon all the conscious people of the country to extent their support to this noble and humanitarian cause so that women rights can be established. Mahila Parishad is trying to establish a conscious women society vis-a-vis a society of conscious women citizens. Mahila Parishad is trying to launch those policies through the state machinery so that there is a radical change in the outlook of people. To set up a democratic, secular and humanitarian society Mahila Parishad has been associated with all these movements. Whenever any issue or controversies that went against humanity, against equal rights of women, Mahila Parishad has taken a brave and strong stand. In the 90s when fundamentalist forces were gaining strength in Bangladesh. Mahila Parishad took a firm stand against its expansion and adopted a secular outlook for combating evil design. It helped women who were victims of fundamentalist forces. Mahila Parishad has participated in all progressive, democratic and civic movements of the country.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad is staging a total war against the philosophical, educational, social and political bases of fundamentalism with a total and complete outlook to stop reactionary activities against a democratic society, against the minimum humanitarian rights of women. To spread this idea and to stand beside women, beside the victims of fundamentalist forces wc have adopted many programs. As a result of which today wc see Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has stood as a force recognized by the state against all evils against women. It is true that after the 80s, particularly from the 90s many development partners and donor agencies arc participating in similar programs and sharing their global experience for the emancipation of women. Since 1993, United Nations lias been undertaking programs to establish equal rights of men and women and its member states arc supposed to adopt similar programs. From 1975 to 1995- in these two decades we have witnessed a number of significant programs have been declared by the UN. Women decade have been announced; progressive actions plans for the betterment of women have been adopted. Wc have witnessed in 1993 Vienna convention the plan of action of Vienna was declared; the equal rights of women came in the forefront; two slogans became prominent - 'oppression of women is a violation of human rights' and 'women rights arc human rights'. In the 90s throughout the entire world, human causes have been brought forward and attempts have been made to advance those causes.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad have been associated with these global thoughts and been associated with those movements. Its influence has also spread rapidly within the organization. 'Women rights arc human rights'; 'oppression against women is a violation of human rights'- to establish the message embodied in these slogans at national level Mahila Parishad has played a very decisive role. The NGOs also came forward with donor patronage for establishing the rights of women and to resist violence against women. Mahila Parishad started these activities long back and played the pioneering role. At the time of its birth Mahila Parishad upheld the philosophy, ideology and vision in the same spirit of all humanitarian movements, movements that foster equal rights of men and women and demand for establishment of a democratic society. The declaration of our organization has captured all these values. Today on the occasion 37th foundation day, if we look back to the declaration of 1972 constitution, we shall discover that Mahila Parishad had been working for the last three decades in the same light and spirit. In the declaration of 1972 constitution there were long term vision and strategy. In various decades our programs did not change radically. Keeping our objectives intact wc have brought some changes in our strategic directions. The salient characteristics, the inception of voluntary service that is still our main strength remains integral in our works. There are more than 150 thousand members and five thousand trained organizers who are working relentlessly. They receive no remuneration. Housewives of Rural Bangladesh and working women are the main strength of our organization. Considering the world event in 1992, especially in the programs of stopping violence against women, taking the help of lawyers for running cases for a longtime and considering some practical aspects wc had to take the contribution fund form a donor agency. Today we must express our gratitude to America based women organization Sanghati, the London based women organization BOLO, 2050 of Japan and the rich and affluent as well as broad minded who have helped us in our initial days - to all of them. We are also grateful to those ordinary women whose financial assistance has helped us to build Sufia Kamal Bhavan. Today's Sufia Kamal Bhavan has been erected by the generous contributions and charity of Sanghati Sheffield. If wc look back at the women empowerment throughout the last three and a half decade, then wc shall observe we have struggled for the equality of both men and women. Wc believe in the philosophy of Thomas Paine who talked about human rights, humanitarian approaches. That famous saying of Begum Rokeya: "Rise, wake up, say together you arc human beings" have inspired all of us!

Mahila Parishad has directed the women empowerment trend with its multitude of programs. It is trying to change the anti-women outlook of traditional society. Not only we have focused on curricula and syllabi we got involved with various media, newspapers, films, drama where the traditional outlook of society is reflected and through which our society get influenced in that cultural movement. To see that our language echoes in those media, and the outlook regarding humanitarian treatment of women arc upheld we have incorporated our movement with those of others. Wc tried to introduce a gender perspective within the current movement and we gathered strength and support from that movement.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad is working as a lobby or agent for women. It has used on going humanitarian movements as a pressure on the state and society. From its inception, Mahila Parishad, beside its own separate movements, has kept contact and coordinated with other women and humanitarian organizations to build joint movements, develop unified vision and action plans. From year 2000 Mahila Parishad is working with social resistance committee of 41 women and humanitarian organizations and development agencies so that they can came forward united to resist oppression on women, to bring the marginalized women to the main stream, to unite all aboriginal and ethnic minority groups under one banner. To organize women, to awaken them, the leaders of the movements should also be trained and skillful. For this purpose wc arc taking a organized approach and initiative. From time to time we arc announcing Organizing week, organizing fortnight and organizing month. Year 2004 was our organization year. The aim of organization year was to spread the ideology and thoughts of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad in the whole country. We have adopted some slogans there There is no substitute of voluntary service'. As citizens this voluntary service means show of patriotism. Wc have devoted ourselves to transform this patriotism into an effective force through a well trained process. That voluntary service requires professional skill for its fullest delivery.

Today in Bangladesh wc see the picture of awakened, spirited and courageous women in their actions, awareness and responsible behaviour who are moving forward with incessant speed, caring no obstacles. The picture of spirited women that we see now in our country Mahila Parishad is a proud part of that picture, of that upsurge. The state and