'Women journalists face a lack of security'

They said lack of security, proper recognition and stereotyped attitudes are mainly responsible for their low participation in journalism.

The four-day workshop on 'Strengthening Women's Involvement in Media' was organised by Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra (BNSK) at the National Press Club in the city.

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British High Commission and Thompson Foundation have jointly funded the programme.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam attended the workshop as chief guest while Editor of the weekly Begum Nurjahan Begum, British Deputy High Commissioner Robert Gibson and Julie Mc Creadie of Thompson Foundation as especial guests.

Robert Gibson said patriarchal society and the problem of maintaining balance between work and family are the main reasons for low participation of women in journalism in Bangladesh.

Low wage, unfair treatment and harassment by male colleagues are also the causes for which, even in the UK and the USA, only around 33 percent of working journalists are women, he added.

M Shamsul Islam said the press in Bangladesh is free as the government believes in free flow of information.

He said the government has already taken many steps for the uplift of women in different sectors.

"Now they will have to fight for taking their due place in job markets including journalism," the minister added.

The women journalists had passed a tough way. What is needed now is proper training and necessary support from concerned quarters for further advancement, said Nurjahan Begum.

Nasimun Ara Huq, president of BNSK, in her presidential speech said there are 150 women journalists working in different media in the country.

" Though the number of women journalists has increased, their percentage is still very low in comparison to total number of journalists," she added.