Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to help the government implement National Women Development Policy for the welfare of women.

Local knowledge and the participation of women should be focused in any development and climate adaptation programme as women are more affected by climate change impacts and traditional methods fit for changing situations, experts said yesterday.

Different rights groups yesterday demanded exemplary punishment to sacked schoolteacher Porimol Joydhor who is accused of sexually assaulting a female student.

Domestic violence is a matter of grave concern that needs to be handled with strict law. Every day we are alarmed to hear the gruesome deeds of torture and physical abuse by the husbands on their wives.

The government had been implementing various programmes to bring the country’s women to mainstream development activities as the progress could not be attained keeping women behind, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

Participants of a consultation meeting yesterday pointed out flaws and gave suggestions to improve rules on Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 for its proper implementation.

This year’s budget has come as a blessing for the fair sex. Apart from the Ministry of Women, 16 ministries and four divisions will focus on gender budgeting in the coming fiscal to end gender disparities and violence, as well as to ensure women’s rights.

A view exchange meeting titled ‘The role of media in preventing oppression against women’ organised by Banchte Shekha, a non-government organization was held at Danapani Restaurant in Narail on Friday.

Bangladesh Open University (BOU) Students Unity Council, Chittagong region, yesterday protested the government’s decision of cancelling degree (pass course) and keeping only honours course in Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Social Science (BSS).

The jihadi protests and demonstrations by a certain quarter against the National Women Development Policy 2011 reminds me of the story of the “weaver bird’s nest and the big needle” back in my childhood days. Before going to the story, let us have a look at the policy itself.

A discussion meeting demanding immediate implementation of women development policy-2011 was held at Central Shaheed Minar area in Kurigram on May 28. In the morning participants formed a human chain at Shaheed Minar area where people from different walks  of life joined.

The National Women’s Advancement Policy (NWAP) 2011 was declared by the government early this year. There are 49 articles covering prevention of violence against women, women’s education, employment, food security, gender responsive budgeting, rights of disabled and distressed women, and protection of women from adverse effects of climate change.

Karmojibi Nari, an organisation of women workers, demanded immediate implementation of National Women Development Policy 2011 to enable women to realise their rights.

Empowerment of women lies in granting them equal status in society. This was the premise on which the two-day Gender Fair was inaugurated by Meher Afroz Chumki, chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of women and children’s affair.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman yesterday said the government should implement the newly formulated National Women Development Policy for empowering women.