Direct election to JS reserved seats demanded

Samajik Protirodh Committee forms a human chain at Manik Mia Avenue in the city yesterday demanding direct election to the seats reserved for women in parliament. PHOTO: STAR

Representatives from 31 women's rights organisations and NGOs joined the demonstration under the auspices of Samajik Protirodh Committee (Social Resistance Committee).

The government has not taken any initiative yet to meet the longstanding demand of women for direct election, although the ruling party had pledged before the election to meet the demand, said the women leaders.Rather, the government has undermined the women's rights by passing a bill regarding the reserved seats recently only for the party's interest, they added.

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"We, the women of the country, will never retreat from our demands for direct election and an increase in the number of reserved seats," said Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.

She regretted that many women are now lobbying the ministers for nomination in the upcoming election to the reserved seats. "They even do not hesitate to pay Tk three or four lakh to get nomination," she added.

The women's rights activists also expressed their grave concern over a series of bombings across the country on August 17.

They called on the government to take effective steps to track down the culprits behind the bomb attacks and stop state-sponsored violence.

The organisations that took part in the demonstration included Ain O Salish Kendra, Sammilta Nari Samaj, Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha, BLAST, Bangladesh Mahila Ainjibi Samity, Karmojibi Nari, Mahila Muktijoddha Sangsad, Mahila Samity, Nari Pakkha, Nari Unnayan Shakti, Brac and Proshika.