Women must proactively overcome the obstacles they face, says PM Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on Bangladeshi women to overcome gender obstacles instead of being daunted by them.

Her remarks came on Saturday during the Begum Rokeya Padak ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

This year’s recipients of the national honour for women’s achievements were the (late) journalist Baby Maudud, artist Surayia Rahman, writer Shobha Rani Tripura, organiser Mazeda Shawkat Ali and social worker Masuda Faruk Ratna.

“We want everyone, men and women, to work together for the development of this country.”

“Women must also believe that their talents and abilities can be developed. They must take this initiative themselves. They should not depend on anyone else, and stand on their own feet.”

Calling women to take action themselves, Hasina said, “There are obstacles and more difficulties will come. They must advance by overcome these obstacles.”

The prime minister quoted a poem from National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam: “Of all good things in the world, half were made by women and half by men.”

She also highlighted the support Begum Rokeya received by her husband and the ways in which her mother Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib helped her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“The society created by men could not have been brought about without the support of women. An equal society must be created to develop a society where men and women are equal parts of the population. This is reality. But it takes time for some people to accept.”

The prime minister also spoke of the sacrifices made by women during the 1971 Liberation War and their roles in the struggle for independence, directly and through their support.

Hasina said that Bangladesh was on course to achieving the world dreamed of by Begum Rokeya.

“The most important thing is that we are moving closer to a new era, dispelling the darkness to create the world Begum Rokeya saw was possible.”

“But it would not be possible without her dream.”