Call for women FFs' proper recognition
Women rights activists at a seminar yesterday demanded proper recognition of women's contributions to the War of Liberation.
Although women played a significant role through direct participation in the war, their contributions and sacrifices were not properly recognised in the nation's history, they said.
Women freedom fighters (FFs) should be honoured with due respect and recognition, they added.
They were speaking at a seminar styled 'Liberation war and women' organised by the Bangladesh Federation of University Women (BFUW) at the capital's WVA auditorium marking the 40th anniversary of the Liberation War
Speaking as the chief guest, noted litterateur Selina Hossain said women freedom fighters remain undervalued in the history, which was mostly written by the males.
"During the war, women fought everywhere, from the grassroots level to the policy-making level. But their tale of suffering, struggle and sacrifice were not evaluated properly in the history," she said.
Narrating some stories of brave women freedom fighters who participated in different operations against the Pakistani military during the war, she emphasised on collecting or writing about the liberation war stories that describes the real contribution of the women freedom fighters.
Women leader Maleka Begum said women had acted in different roles during the war like guerrilla fighter, war organiser and caregiver, but they were always represented as the victims of torture and repression.
Another women leader Selina Khaleque also said, during the post-liberation period, the society had isolated the female war-victims by recognising them as 'Birangona' ('war heroine).
She demanded amendment to the government's definition of freedom fighters that says that only those who fought with arms will be considered as freedom fighters.
BFUW President Prof Nazma Siddiqui chaired the programme while women rights activist Salma Khan spoke among others.
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