Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has taken every possible measure to empower women in very sector and ensure their rights, adding, "Bangladesh has been able to materialise the dream of Begum Rokeya". "The womenfolk don't lag behind in any sector due to the initiatives of my government," she said. The premier made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest on the "Begum Rokeya Day-2023" and distribution of "Begum Rokeya Padak-2023" to five noted women marking 143rd birth and 91st death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain. The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs arranged the programme commemorating the contribution of Begum Rokeya, a pioneer of Bangalee women's education and a social reformer ensuring equal rights for women and men, at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. The prime minister said they have taken a lot of measures to ensure women empowerment as envisioned by Begum Rokeya. "We have guaranteed equal rights for the men and women creating job opportunities for them," she said. Sheikh Hasina said economic solvency is the most important things for women empowerment. "We have always been trying that the women can stand on their feet which will help them to be empowered," she said. Referring to Rokeya's dream that the women will be judges and barristers, she said her dream has come to reality as the women are seizing all the opportunities with their own abilities. The premier said before the country's independence, it was illegal for a woman to become a judge. When this legal bar was lifted by the initiative of the Father of the Nation, Nazmun Ara Sultana had become the first women judge in the lower court, she said. She also said her government later made Nazmun Ara as the first women judge in the High Court and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The head of the government said she had a dream to appoint a woman as the country's Chief Justice which has yet been materialized. She urged all the countrymen to pray for her only daughter Saima Wazed Putul as today is also her birthday.   The five award recipients are - first female vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Khaleda Ekram (posthumous) of Bogura for women education, noted reproductive health expert Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter of Rangpur for establishing women rights, Kamrunnesa Ashraf Dina (posthumous) of Netrakona for her contributions to the socio-economic development of women, Ronita Bala of Thakurgaon for rural development and Nishat Mazumder (Mountaineer) of Lakshmipur district for her contribution to awakening of women. State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, MP, and Secretary Nazma Mobarek, spoke on the occasion. On behalf of the award winners, Nishat Majumder expressed her feelings on winning the award. Each of the awardees has got a gold medal, a certificate and a cheque of Taka 4 lakh. Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said women's participation is now ensured in every sector due to her government's tireless efforts in the last 15 years. "The women are now everywhere. They are now contributing to the politics, economy, foreign policy, enacting laws, administration, law enforcing agencies, armed forces, judiciary alongside border security. They are performing their duties with efficiency," she said. The prime minister said the women has also been showing their competence in journalism, information and technology, sports and other arenas and have been earning reputation for Bangladesh. "It is a matter of pride that Bangladeshi women have topped in Asia," she said. She went on saying Bangladeshi women are on top in South Asia in gender index as Bangladesh is in seventh position across the globe in women empowerment. The premier mentioned that the women account for 70 percent of the country's health service providers while their number is over 80 percent in ready-made garments sector. She reiterated her commitment to taking the country forward further and transforming it into a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. "Our country will be made smart by 2041 with making our population, economy and society smart," she said. The prime minister said her government has been working to make both the men and women equally efficient to compete in the world. Sheikh Hasina said none can confine women in home in the name of Islam referring to the recently concluded OIC conference on women in Islam in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, in which, the contribution of women to medical science and literature was portrayed. "So, none can take the women back home in the name of Islam," she said.   Source: BSS

Anti-Corruption Commission's Chief Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Jia will not contest the 12th National Parliament Election. He said it to the reporters infront of Supreme Court premises on October 23.  Not only BNP leader Khaleda Zia, also including Awami League leader Haji Md. Selim and people who jailed for two years or above, will not attend the election.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that the health condition of Begum Khaleda Zia who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, is developing. He informed that she has no breathing problem at the moment and the oxygen saturation is good. But she is suffering from some post Covid complications. It is a matter of concern. Referring the physicians he also informed that there are some problems in her heart and kidneys. In this situation she needs better treatment which is not available in the country. She needs to provide treatment abroad but the government did not permit. The BNP leader was speaking at a program at National Press Club on Friday. Thanking journalist Rozina Islam, Mirza Fakhrul said, thanks to Rozina. Because she upheld corruption of the health ministry and government bravely. For this reason health ministry and the government are angry over Rozina. About not granting bail to Rozina he said, bail process is being delayed illegally. The habit of Awami League government is to file cases. He commented that unjust act should be termed as unjust. At present people are being killed after torturing him during remand under police custody. Mirza Fakhrul said that due to the division among journalist society movement does not come out as successful. The program presided over by Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas where BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwer Chandra Roy and party vice chairman Shawkat Mahmud delivered their speeches. AH

Shamima Begum, who left the UK for Syria to join the Islamic State group as a teenager, will not be allowed to return and fight her citizenship case, the Supreme Court has ruled. The court said in a unanimous ruling that her rights were not breached when she was refused permission to return. Shamima Begum, 21, wants to come back to challenge the home secretary's decision to remove her British nationality. She is currently in a camp controlled by armed guards in northern Syria. Shamima Begum was 15 when she and two other east London schoolgirls left the UK in February 2015 and travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group. In 2019, the then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid stripped Shamima Begum of her citizenship on national security grounds. Last July, the Court of Appeal ruled that the only fair way forward was to allow her into the UK because she could not effectively appeal against the decision from the camp in northern Syria. The Home Office subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider the Court of Appeal's judgment, arguing that allowing her to return to the UK "would create significant national security risks". On Friday, Lord Reed, president of the Supreme Court, said the government had been entitled to prevent Shamima Begum from returning to the UK. Announcing the ruling, Lord Reed said: "The Supreme Court unanimously allows all of the home secretary's appeals and dismisses Shamima Begum's cross-appeal." He said the Court of Appeal's judgment "did not give the home secretary's assessment the respect which it should have received" given the role's "responsibility for making such assessments" and accountability to parliament. Lord Reed added the Court of Appeal had "mistakenly believed that, when an individual's right to have a fair hearing... came into conflict with the requirements of national security, her right to a fair hearing must prevail." He said the right to a fair hearing did "not trump all other considerations, such as the safety of the public". Lord Reed said the appropriate answer was not to force the government to bring Shamima Begum back to the UK - but to pause her legal fight over citizenship until she is in a safer position to take part in her appeal. He added: "That is not a perfect solution, as it is not known how long it may be before that is possible. But there is no perfect solution to a dilemma of the present kind." The current home secretary, Priti Patel, said the Supreme Court's judgment had "reaffirmed the home secretary's authority to make vital national security decisions". She added: "The government will always take the strongest possible action to protect our national security and our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of our citizens." Who is Shamima Begum? Shamima Begum was born in the UK to parents of Bangladeshi heritage. When she was 15, she and two other schoolgirls left the UK for Syria to join IS. Shamima Begum travelled via Turkey to IS headquarters in Raqqa, where she married a Dutch recruit. She lived under IS rule for more than three years, and was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019. The baby later died of pneumonia and Shamima Begum said she had previously lost two other children. Javid also welcomed the ruling, saying any "restrictions of rights and freedoms" faced by Shamima Begum were a "direct" result of her "extreme" actions. He said: "There are no simple solutions to this situation but any restrictions of rights and freedoms faced by this individual are a direct consequence of the extreme actions that she and others have taken, in violation of government guidance and common morality." Liberty, the human rights group which intervened in Shamima Begum's case, said the latest ruling sets "an extremely dangerous precedent". Rosie Brighouse, a lawyer with Liberty, said: "The right to a fair trial is not something democratic governments should take away on a whim, and nor is someone's British citizenship. "If a government is allowed to wield extreme powers like banishment without the basic safeguards of a fair trial it sets an extremely dangerous precedent. "The security services have safely managed the returns of hundreds of people from Syria but the government has chosen to target Shamima Begum." Maya Foa, director of the human rights group Reprieve said preventing Shamima Begum from entering the UK remained "a cynical ploy to make her someone else's responsibility". "Like many of its European counterparts, the UK is more than capable of bringing home British detainees in Syria, many of whom left as teenagers after being trafficked or groomed online. "Abandoning them in a legal black hole - in Guantanamo-like conditions - is out of step with British values and the interests of justice and security." Source: BBC AH

Expressing solidarity with the hunger strike program seeking release of imprisoned BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, we will unitedly fight for Khaleda Zia’s release. We all are united including Dr. Kamal Hossain, ASM Abdur Rab and Mostafa Mohsin Montu. There is no reason to misunderstand. Of our seven-point demand the first is about release of Khaleda Zia. He said these at the token hunger strike program demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s proper treatment and unconditional release. The hunger strike program started at 10 am at Engineers Institutions and concluded at 3 pm on Sunday. BNP organized the program. Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, they cannot stay outside if Khaleda Zia is released. They will not release Begum Zia so easily. So programs on streets should be given. Jatiya Oikyafront will remain beside in this regard. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Dr. Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan and other senior central leaders were present in the hunger strike program. AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over prestigious Begum Rokeya Padak 2018 to five persons on Sunday in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society and the empowerment of women. Zinnatun Nesa Talukder, Professor Zohra Anis, Shila Roy, Rauma Chowdhury and Rokeya Begum received the medals weighing 25 grams of 18-karat gold, cheques of Tk 2 lakh and certificates from the premier at a programme held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. The programme was organized by the ministry of children and women affairs with state minister for women and children affairs Meher Afroze Chumki in the chair. Begum Rokeya Padak was introduced in 1995 after the name of Begum Rokeya. Rokeya was a leading feminist writer and social worker during the early 20th century. She played a pioneering role in emancipating gender equality and ensuring female education in the Indian sub-continent. Begum Rokeya Day is being observed on Sunday across the country with due respect. On this occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have already given separate messages. MHK

The court has issued arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia as she did not appear before court in the Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft case. Khaleda Zia was scheduled to appear before the court of Dhaka number 5 Special Judge Dr. Akhtaruzzaman on Thursday which was set up at the Alia Madrassa field in Bakgshibazar. The court passed the order as she did not appear in the stipulated time due to hartal of leftist parties. Lawyer of Khaleda Zia, Zakir Hossain said, the hartal of leftist parties is going on and it will continue till 2 pm. Khaleda Zia will appear before court after completion of the hartal. Anti Corruption Commission lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal said, they have filed a petition. Khaleda Zia will appear after 2 pm. So they requested the court to provide time for Khaleda Zia till 2 pm. After hearing of the two sides the judge said, I have not seen any impact of hartal. I was on the traffic congestion for one hour. You can come, I can come then why Madam Khaleda could not come. You have submitted the attendance though she is present. The judge after waiting till 12:15 pm cancelled the bail of Khaleda Zia. Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against six including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman at the Ramna police station on 3rd July 2008 for embezzling taka 2 crore 10 lakh 71 thousand 643 taka of Zia Orphanage Trust. ACC Deputy Director Harun ar Rashid submitted the charge sheet against the accused on 5th August, 2010. Judge of Dhaka’s third special judge court Basudev Roy charged the frame against them on 19th March, 2014. The other accused are, former Member of Parliament Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal (Econo Kamal), businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed, former secretary of Prime Minister’s Office Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and nephew of Ziaur Rahman Mominur Rahman. AH / MK