Denouncing the efforts of a section of people to keep women captive in houses, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged all to come forward to create social awareness to stop anti-women propaganda.

“Very often a section of people want to keep women confined to houses through anti-women propaganda and by giving wrong explanation of Islam. They want to keep women away from enjoying the rights of education and livelihoods… We need to come forward to create social awareness against anti-women propaganda,” she said while inaugurating a programme marking the World Women’s Day.

Hasina said Islam gave women the right for working with dignity in all sectors, including education, business-trade, industry, agriculture, healthcare and service of family, social and national lives.

In this connection, she cited examples of Hazrat Ayesha (RA), Hazrat Khadija (RA), Asma Binte Mukharrabah Inbe Jandal (RA), Hazrat Joynab (RA), Hazrat Sumaiya (RA), from the early stage of Islam in Arab who were also engaged in trade and business, even during war and said that their contributions will always be remembered.

Sheikh Hasina also urged the country’s women to be vocal and put up a united resistance against the killing of people through arson attacks by BNP-Jamaat alliance and its leader Khaleda Zia. “We must put up a united resistance against the evil activities of BNP-Jamaat because we cannot tolerate such heinous activities in Bangladesh.”

The prime minister also reiterated that the person behind these heinous incidents have to face trial one day. “The trial of the person who is doing these heinous activities will be held in the land of Bangladesh Inshallah, there is no doubt about it,” she said.

Blasting the BNP leader Khaleda Zia for destroying the academic lives of more than 1.5 million examinees of the country through enforcing hartals during the SSC exams time, she questioned what is the fault of these innocent students?

Hasina also criticised Khaleda for showing utter negligence towards the court and its orders. “She (Khaleda) must abide by law, justice, court and verdict.”

Terming BNP’s boycott of the last general election a political mistake of Khaleda Zia, she said the BNP chief is now burning people to fulfill her political high ambition. “Who did give her the right to kill people of this country through arson attacks?” she questioned.

The prime minister said Khaleda is killing people through arson attacks though the country’s people are not responding to her so-called movement.

“More than two months have passed by since she (Khaleda) has started killing people. What kind of politics is this? Politics is for people and their welfare, not to burn them to death. This is very much unfortunate as she been doing this endlessly,” Hasina told the function.

The premier also questioned on how the person who was the prime minister and the opposition leader could kill people through arson attacks.

“There is nothing more shocking than killing people through fire, and unfortunately she (Khaleda Zia) is doing that,” Hasina added.

She mentioned that BNP-Jamaat alliance in the name of hartal and blockade is killing women, infants and general people through arson attacks when the government has made the country a role model in the world by developing all sectors, including women.

She also requested the country’s womenfolk to contribute towards eradicating injustice, corruption and drug addiction from society as a mother, a wife and a daughter.

Terming women as the half of our population, the prime minister underscored the need for taking the country ahead with men and women together overcoming all hurdles to advancement.

The prime minister also elaborated her government's various steps for the development of womenfolk and said that the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the deputy leader, the leader of opposition, judges, secretaries and VCs of various universities are now female due to fruitful steps for the pro-women development policy of the Awami League-led government.

It was her government that initiated effective programmes to develop women leadership at rural level by creating three reserved seats in the union council election, she said.

Hasina said her government implemented various programmes in the last six years for the development of the womenfolk, including enactment of the National Women Development Policy-2011.

Describing Bangladesh's achievement of numerous awards including the South-South Award and the UNESCO "Peace Tree" women literacy award, Sheikh Hasina said different countries and organizations, including the United Nations are highly praising Bangladesh's tireless efforts for development of the womenfolk.

The Prime Minister said Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has been elected the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association getting huge votes, which is a rare honour for Bangladesh.

She said Bangladesh's position has been strengthened thanks to the government's patronisation as well as work spirit, skill and sacrifice of the womenfolk of the country.

The women of our country are also brightening the image in the international arena as they are efficiently performing responsibilities at the UN Peace Keeping Missions.

Later, the Prime Minister witnessed a cultural programme.

Women and Children Affairs Ministry organised the programme at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) with State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Ministry Meher Afroze Chumki in the chair.

Country representative of the United Nations' Population Fund (UNFPA) Argentina P Metavel was the special guest where Women and Child Affairs secretary Tariq-Ul-Islam delivered the welcome speech.