Women activists of the political parties and social and professional organisations on Saturday called on the political parties to incorporate the issue of women’s empowerment in the election manifestos on priority basis.

At an exchange of views at Narigrantha Prabartana, they also demanded thirty per cent nominations for women leaders to contest in the upcoming general elections.

It was an amazing day for three women and an NGO as they got recognition for their individual and organisational success and vision at a gala event in Dhaka yesterday.

The women were given away 'Citi Microentrepreneurship Award 2008' for their entrepreneurial spirit and skills, as they set examples for millions of microcredit borrowers to follow.

Karmojibi Nari urges political parties

Speakers at a press conference called on the political parties yesterday to incorporate the rights issues of women and labourers in their election manifestos for the next general elections.

Karmojibi Nari organised the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium in the city.

Bangladesh was born out of conflict thirty-seven years ago. However, there is no figure available on how many women become victims of eve teasing in Bangladesh. However, numbers are available in other forms of sexual violence on Bangladeshi women. As eve teasing does not involve any physical harassment the law refuses to recognize it as a violent act.

The Government should preserve 40 per cent seats for women in local government body to empower them.

The constitution of Bangladesh endorses equal rights for women in all spheres of life, said Former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Sultana Kamal, also Executive Director of Ain O Shalish Kendra at a press conference after the National Convention on "Elected Women Representatives of Local Government" organised by Nari Uddog Kendra (NUK) at LGED auditorium yesterday.

আওয়ামী লীগের কেন্দ্রীয় সহসম্পাদক, ময়মনসিংহের মুক্তাগাছা থানা আওয়ামী লীগের সভানেত্রী, সংবাদ পাঠিকা ও সাংস্কৃতিক ব্যক্তিত্ব রাশিদা মহিউদ্দিন গত বৃহস্পতিবার ভোরে ল্যাব এইড কার্ডিয়াক হাসপাতালে মারা গেছেন। মডার্ন ডায়াগনস্টিক হাসপাতালে দাঁতের অপারেশনের পর হার্ট অ্যাটাকে তিনি মারা গেছেন বলে পরিবারের পক্ষ থেকে অভিযোগ করা হয়। এ জন্য তারা মডার্ন হাসপাতালের চিকিৎসকদের অবহেলাকেই দায়ী করেছেন।

The Women Development Policy should be implemented immediately to ensure equal rights for women in every sphere, said Former Chief Justice and Chief Adviser Mohammad Habibur Rahman at the inaugural ceremony of a grand rally of Karmajibi Nari, a working women's platform.

Bangladesh permanent representative to UN Ismat Jahan is learnt to have expressed her desire to marry a Dutch national presently staying in New York. She has communicated her desire to the foreign ministry in Dhaka and sought permission. But as per foreign service rules a diplomat is not allowed to marry a foreigner as there is a risk of state secret being leaked out.

Payel Islam, a class VIII student of Srimongol in Sylhet, returns home from school in the evening every day and falls victim to eaveteasers. Payel does not feel like disclosing it to her parents lest they stop her studies. But one evening, the worst possible thing happened to the teenager.

Women and children, who are vulnerable to bird flu, should be protected from the disease. Children who play with dead birds or fowls can be affected.

The issue of protecting women and children demand attention as they face risk because they have to touch, deal or use poultry birds, other birds and eggs.