‘More residential hostels to be set up for working women’

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira said the government was planning to set up more residential hostels for working women across the country.

"Our prime minister has already planned many schemes to help working women of the country...soon we'll be setting up Karmajibi Mohila Hostel in each district," she said.

She said this on Sunday as the chief guest at a programme organised by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) at its Ruhul Quddus Auditorium in the capital to celebrate the International Women's Day 2020.

Fazilatunnesa said her ministry was working to create a great impact on the development and empowerment of our women. She also assured she would try to facilitate the institute by recruiting more female members.

She gave importance on the government's outlooks on women empowerment remembering the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 

As a special guest, managing director of Probashi Kallyan Bank Mahtab Jabin said the equality between men and women exists in our constitution only. Women are still enforced to do non-payment works. 

Their empowerment is not successful because of many barriers including lack of social support. She urged everyone to come forward to overcome this situation.

Professor Dr Sadeka Halim, dean of the Faculty of Business Studies of Dhaka University, presented how our women are oppressed by the system and viewpoint of patriarchal society. Economic empowerment can strengthen women's capacity but we also have to work on violence, gender issues, family structures and attitudes.

Rukhsana Rashid FCMA, executive director, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission said women were working successfully but they were not getting equal remuneration in most of the cases.

Though some women work in top positions the number is still low. She hoped more women would come to the CMA profession. 

Akhtar Sanjida Kasem FCA, FCMA, partner, A Qasem and Co, gave importance on women empowerment both in family and workplace. She remembered late ICMA member Kirmani-Jannatul couple and their child who died in a recent fire accident at their residence in Mogbazar.

Founder and Consultant of KK Foundation Esha Mahin mentioned numerous obstructions like violence, lack of help, mental issues, family, tortures and insecurities as barriers of women empowerment.

Unless we change our point of views and act accordingly it will take more than centuries to create an equal society where men and women will be equal, she added.

Md Mamunur Rashid FCMA, vice president of ICMAB delivered the welcome speech in the programme while ICMAB Secretary Md Munirul Islam FCMA offered vote of thanks in the programme.

Among others, ICMAB past president and council member AKM Delwer Hussain FCMA, ICMAB President Md Jasim Uddin Akond FCMA, past presidents, council members, a large number of fellows and associate members of the Institute and a large number of students were present at the programme.