Int’l Women’s Day today - PM to inaugurate road march in city
Source : The Independent

The International Women’s day will be observed today in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world.

On this day in 1857, female workers of garment factories in New York city brought out a peaceful procession protesting low wage, 12-hour working day and inhuman treatment at their workplaces. The procession came under attack by police.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organised a signature campaign in front of the Institute of Fine Arts on March 7 to make people aware of the women’s rights. –Independent photo

After three years, in commemoration of the day, the female garment workers of New York city launched their union to protect their rights.

As a mark of solidarity with the female sewing workers of USA, the Second International Socialist Women Convention held in Copenhagen in 1910 declared March 8 as the International Women’s Day.

Bangladesh being one of the signatories to UN Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is celebrating the day with due solemnity and festivity at official and private levels.

Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MWCA), International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and Ashwash Mohila Unnayan Sangstha are jointly organising a month-long awareness-raising programme styled "Road March: Tentulia to Teknaf" for protection of women’s rights.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will inaugurate the road march at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium 11.30am today. Information Minister Tariqul Islam and Minister for Women and Children Affairs Begum Khurshid Zahan Haque will also be present at the inaugural function.

Meanwhile, different women organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day. The programmes include rallies, human chain, discussion meetings, cultural functions and street drama.

The International Women’s Day celebration committee launched its four-day programme on Thursday with a women rally at Central Shaheed Minar.

A grand rally will be organised at Manik Mia Avenue in front of the Jatiya Sangsad at 8.30 am today. The women groups will gather at Begum Rokeya Sarani near China Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre and lead a procession towards Manik Mia Avenue. They will also organise cultural function and exhibition.

Association of Development Agencies will organise a gathering of women groups in front of National Museum at 10 am and lead a procession to Central Shaheed Minar.

To celebrate the day, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad (BMP) held a mass signature campaign in front of Dhaka University Fine Arts Institute yesterday afternoon.

Amidst hundreds of enthusiastic participants, the signature campaign called upon all to resist killing of women, rape, repression on women and violation of women’s rights. Renowned painter Qaium Chowdhury was present as chief guest, Professor Anisuzzaman and sculptress Ferdousi Priyabhasini spoke on the occasion as special guest. President of BMP Hena Das presided over the meeting.