Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon parents, especially mothers, to pay attention to grooming their children as worthy citizens with the ideals of Begum Rokeya.
“Especially, mothers should give attention to children so that they do not fall prey to militancy, terrorism, and drugs” she said, while distributing Rokeya Padak-2018 at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka on Sunday.
“Parents have to build friendly relations with their children so that they can share their happiness, sorrow, and any other feelings with them,” the prime minister said, reports BSS.
This year, five prominent women of the country received the Begum Rokeya Award for their outstanding role in empowering womenfolk. They are: former state minister Jinatun Nesa Talukder, former teacher of Comilla Women College, Prof Zohara Anis, noted cultural and social worker of Sunamgonj district, Shila Roy, noted writer and social worker, Rauma Chowdhury, and writer and social worker of Brahmanbaria, Rokeya Begum (posthumously).
Secretary of the ministry, Nasima Begum, gave the welcome address, while Zebunessa Talukder spoke on the occasion on behalf of the award recipients.
Sheikh Hasina said people of this subcontinent were leading pioneers in the world as far as women development issues are concerned, despite having narrow-mindedness and ignorance in a section of society.
“Despite being the champions of democracy, Americans so far have no female president. From that point of view, we are in a more advanced position,” she said.
She was particularly pointing out women occupancy in the posts of prime minister, speaker, leader of the opposition, and deputy leader in parliament.
“However, women must have opportunities to earn for their themselves, as financial solvency is a big issue for making a woman independent and having a position in the family and society,” she said.
Pointing out the opportunities created by her government for women, the prime minister said women are getting the benefits of those programs.
“Nobody will give you a position until you create your own position to get it,” the prime minister said, adding women should be proactive to establish their rights in society as well as to maintain family peace.
Appreciating the increasing participation and successes of women in various nation building activities, the prime minister said women are showing their capacities in all national spheres ranging from administration, the judiciary, and flight operations, to sports, the army, and peacekeeping.
The nation celebrates Rokeya Dibosh on December 9 every year, marking the birth anniversary of Begum Rokeya, a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educationist, and social activist, widely regarded as the pioneer of women’s education in the Indian subcontinent during British rule.
The government introduced the Rokeya Padak in 1995 which is conferred on five eminent women every year, recognizing their pioneering contribution to empowering women and raising women’s issues in society.
Paying rich tribute to Begum Rokeya, the prime minister said, “We are moving on the path she had showed us. Once upon a time an oppressed woman in our society could not tell her story, even to family members, in fear of alienation.
“But the times have changed and parents are encouraged to send their daughters to school. Women are now efficiently performing in the judiciary, army, border guard, and air force.
The government has framed many laws to protect the rights of women. We had to overcome many obstacles to come to this position,” she said.