Bangladesh is a role model for women's empowerment, State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira has said.
“Many developed countries of the world are lagging behind Bangladesh when it comes to women empowerment,” she said while speaking virtually as the chief guest at the award ceremony of the Best Joyeeta Award on Thursday.
The state minister said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman believed that the overall development of Bangladesh was not possible without women.
“So he took steps to ensure the development, empowerment, and employment of women. Bangabandhu gave women the title of Birangana, who were violated during the Liberation War, and recognized them as freedom fighters,” said the state minister.
She also said that in the First Five Year Plan in 1973, Bangabandhu included the issues of women's development and reserved a 10% quota for women's jobs.
“Following the path of the father of the nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various steps to establish women's employment, empowerment, and equal rights. She has established the Jayeeta Foundation to increase women's skills and capabilities.”
Five women from Rajshahi division received the Joyeeta Award on Thursday.
They are Keya Islam (economic), Dr Sayeeda Anzu (education and employment), Monwara Begum (mother), Mousumi Akter (repression prevention) and Morjina Parveen (social development).
They were given a certificate, crest, and Tk25,000 each.
