Real development is not possible without development of women. We need to ensure women’s participation in every development. Girls should not only be able to earn, they should have the right to earn. Women need to be involved in the decision making process.
This was stated by the negotiators at a discussion meeting held in the capital on the afternoon of autumn.
On the occasion of the 141st birth anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the National Library organized a discussion program titled ‘Begum Rokeya’s Dream and Bangladesh’s Women’s Liberation Movement’ on Thursday afternoon. The event was held at Donia Studio Theater Hall in the capital under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with private libraries in Dhaka.
The keynote speaker was the President of the Bangladesh Women’s Council. Fauzia Moslem. He said, “What Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain said and wrote a hundred years ago is still relevant in our lives. Yet his literature inspires us. Before we used to read Rokeya essays in class as a child, there was a trend of Rokeya lessons. Today, the Rokeya lessons of the National Library and the libraries of Dhaka have strengthened our culture and style of reading, which I am very impressed to see. ‘
Participating in the discussion, Jharna Rahman, a novelist, said that today’s youth need to develop their imagination and realize how difficult it is for Begum Rokeya to speak out against the prejudices of the society.
Speaking on the occasion, Kazi Alim-uz-Zaman, a journalist and researcher, said that the present day libraries have to propagate the ideology of social reformers like Begum Rokeya. Through this, a kind of activism will come in the libraries.
Speaking on the occasion, Director of the National Library, Poet Minar Mansur said that the celebration of Rokeya’s birth anniversary started at the Donia Library in Dhaka. The end of it will be with the libraries of Rangpur at Rokeya’s birth place in Payraband village of Rangpur. “We are committed to keeping the country’s libraries afloat and continuing the library movement,” he said.
Representatives of private libraries in Dhaka took part in the program. Md. Granthabitan was present. Zahiruddin, Abu Taher (Bakul) of Kamal Smriti Library in Gandaria, Anisul Hossain (Tareq), editor of Shaheed Baki Smriti Library in Khilgaon.
Women need to be involved in the decision making process
Inisha Hafeez, a member of Donia Sabuj Kundi Kachikanchar Mela, danced at the beginning of the program. Mukti and Tahmid of Sursagar Lalit Kala Academy performed the song.
At the next stage, Hafsa Saba and Shahriar Avi, members of Donia Library, gave feedback from Rokeya Sahitya Pathchakra.
Manzar Hasan, a cultural activist and frontier librarian, gave a welcome speech at the function. Shahnawaz.
