Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said the anti-women forces will have to be resisted together along with all the people of the country.
“The anti-women forces, which are trying to emerge, will have to be tackled together with all the people of the country,” he told an award distribution ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, marking International Women’s Day.
UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis and Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University Gitiara Nasreen and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Mamtaj Ahmed also spoke at the function with Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid in the chair.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Yunus said there are still many people in the society who undermine women instead of standing by them.
However, he said, there is no alternative to standing by women and supporting them “if we want to prevent violence against women and oppression of women and build a beautiful Bangladesh free from discrimination.”
“We must change the mindset of looking down on women in our society. Otherwise, as a nation, we will have no future,” the chief adviser said.
Prof Yunus said the recent reports of attacks on women are deeply concerning, which is completely contrary to the dream of building a ‘New Bangladesh’.
“We are committed to fulfilling equal rights for all men and women in this new Bangladesh. We will establish these rights by applying our all strengths,” he said.
Recalling the contribution of women, the chief adviser said the country’s women are playing an important role with great courage in their respective fields.
Overcoming various hurdles, he said the women are contributing to the country’s advancement, including politics and economy.
He mentioned that the fallen dictatorship is investing a huge amount of money to create anarchy in the country, saying, “So, we should remain alert”.
Prof Yunus urged all to stay optimum vigilant to ensure the safety of women and children in the country.
“Build social unity against oppression. Stand by each other. Cooperate with the government to build a beautiful and peaceful society,” he said.
Highlighting the interim government’s initiatives to ensure the welfare of women, Prof Yunus said preventing violence against women is one of the government’s priorities.
“Although women often become victims of violence, they do not know where to complain in many times, so a hotline has been introduced to help them report their complaints.”
Noting that an initiative has been taken to update the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2010 to provide legal assistance to women, the chief adviser said works are underway to formulate the Sexual Harassment Prevention and Protection Act, 2025.
“We have formed a reform commission on women’s affairs, which will also give its recommendations.”
A few days ago, Prof Yunus said, a record number of women participated in different sports including football, cricket, Kabaddi, volleyball, and basketball in the ‘Youth Festival 2025’ organised across the country aiming to rejuvenate the power of youth and build a new Bangladesh.
In this festival, 27.4 lakh girls from different parts of the country participated in about 3,000 sports and cultural activities, while people from all walks of life sat in the gallery and encouraged them, the chief adviser said.
The high presence of spectators proved that men also have spontaneous support for establishing women’s rights and participation in Bangladeshi society, he said.
At the onset of his speech, Prof Yunus remembered with deep respect the valiant martyrs of the great Liberation War and the women who fought in 1971, including the Birangonas.
He also recalled the martyrs and injured in the July Uprising, saying that the country’s women were also at the forefront of the impossible feat that the students, workers, and commoners of Bangladesh achieved together through the mass uprising.
“Our girls stood like the Himalayas before the deadly weapons of the fascist forces,” he added.
“Today, we remember these martyred women, who made the supreme sacrifice in the July uprising. I pay homage to the female fighters, who were injured in July,” the chief adviser said, seeking early recovery of the injured female fighters so that they can quickly return to a healthy and normal life.
Despite being at the forefront of the July uprising, he said, the women are still lagging behind in many areas of the society.
He said the government is trying to empower women especially economically and that is why various initiatives are underway.
The interim government is taking various initiatives, including providing financial assistance to distressed mothers, training to women, arranging microcredit programmes, hostels for working women, and daycare centre facilities, Prof Yunus said, adding that talks are also underway on what more can be done for women.
Recalling that contribution of women in different movements – from anti-British movement to the 2024 July movement, he said people have forgotten many valiant women in history and they do not know about their contributions but the leadership and sacrifice of the July daughters will never be forgotten.
“The new Bangladesh that we dream of will not be possible without the participation of women and ensuring their rights. To establish these rights, men must work alongside women as fellow warriors.”
Calling upon men to come forward with enthusiastic cooperation to establish the rightful place for women in society, Prof Yunus said, “…no matter how many obstacles we face, we will fully utilise the opportunity that history has given us.”
He said, “We will build a new Bangladesh. This is our pledge.”
Earlier, Prof Yunus conferred the “Indomitable Women’s Award-2025” on five outstanding women and the Bangladesh Female Cricket Team for their significant contributions to various fields.
