<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said Bangladesh is advanced enough in terms of women empowerment as the country has fulfilled the dream of Begum Rokeya.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We always are making endeavours so that our women would be self-reliant and stand on their own feet as Begum Rokeya said. She (Rokeya) said her dream would be fulfilled on that day when women become judges and barristers. We are advanced enough in that case,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier was addressing an event arranged in the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium to celebrate Begum Rokeya Day 2023 and distribute Begum Rokeya Padak 2023.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasina said many developed countries couldn’t elect a woman as the head of the government yet. A woman couldn’t be the president even in the most powerful country till date, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking about Rokeya’s dream, she said, “We’ve been able to fulfill her expectation largely in Bangladesh.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Talking about her role behind the appointment of Nazmun Ara Sultana as the first woman justice in the country’s higher court, the prime minister said she has one regret that Nazmun Ara couldn’t be the chief justice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nazmun Ara was the first woman justice in the high court division and then the first woman in the Appellate Division as well.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I wish I had made a woman the chief justice at that time. And she was in my mind. But there is so much conservativeness in some areas in our society. It takes time to break these. This is why I couldn’t do it at that time. I still have this regret,” said Hasina.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said economic self-reliance is the biggest matter for a woman. “If a woman is not financially strong, she has no niche anywhere in society or family,” she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Referring to the international conference on “Women in Islam” arranged by OIC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in November last, Sheikh Hasina said had Begum Rokeya been alive now, she would have been happy that women rights are being ensured there in Islamic countries and they are not being confined behind the veils.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">An exhibition was also organized there in Jeddah, displaying names of women who were physicians, teachers and scientists, said Hasina, the only woman head of government among the OIC member countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said now the Saudi government has also come forward to ensure women rights. So, none can confine women behind the veils in the name of Islam anymore here, she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Yes, they (women) would move, maintaining decency. It doesn’t need to move like the western world. But they can’t be kept away from employment,” said the PM.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Turning to gender equality, she said girls have surpassed boys in case of success rate in the recently published HSC examination result.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasina said now an initiative is required so that the larger or equal number of boys gain success in the examination in order to maintain gender equality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“If we want to maintain gender equality, we will have to pay attention to boys, not girls. The girls are moving forward,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mentioning that December 09 is the birthday of her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Hasina sought blessings from all for her daughter on this day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the event on the occasion of the 143rd birth and 91st death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PM handed over the Begum Rokeya Padak 2023 to five noted women for their outstanding contributions towards society, women's education and women empowerment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The five 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's rights, Kamrunnesa Ashraf Dina 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.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On behalf of the recipients, Nishat Mazumder shared her feelings on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira presided over the event, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nazma Mobarek read out the citation of the recipients. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>