Speakers at a leadership training course in Gangachhara observed that a larger number of female public representatives at the grassroots level would help ensure sustainable development as well as equal rights for women.
They made the observation at the concluding session of a two-day training course organised by the Gangachhara upazila parishad on Sunday. Elected female representatives from all 10 union parishads under the upazila participated in the event.
The programme was intended to train them in various female capacity-building initiatives and was organised with the assistance of the Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) and the Union Parishad Governance Project (UPGP).
UNO Tauhidur Rahman chaired the event while upazila chairman Majibar Rahman Pramanik and vice-chairwoman Khyanto Rani Roy were present as chief guest and special guest respectively. Officials from different government departments conducted the sessions on the course.
Speakers at the programme discussed various topics including gender issues, female leadership, health issues, child marriage, domestic violence, education, women rights and female empowerment.
In turn, the participants stressed the importance of equal rights and the scope for female representation in local government, so they could play an effective role in accelerating the pace of development.
They also emphasised the need for empowerment of women, eradication of gender inequalities, and increased participation of women in social causes.
