Human rights activist Sultana Kamal speaks at a press conference at National Press Club organised by Nari Nirapatta Jote on Tuesday.
Human rights activists, trade union leaders and female representatives from different non-government organisations on Tuesday protested against government’s order to finish all programmes before 5:00pm on Pahela Baishakh in capital and elsewhere in the country.
They urged the government to withdraw its order and ensure security to all citizens including male and female if they want to continue their Pahela Baishakh programmes after 5:00pm following the directions of the country’s constitution.
They made their remarks while speaking at a press conference at National Press Club organised by Nari Nirapatta Jote.
Speaking as chief guest, executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra Sultana Kamal said that it was the medieval time decision to keep the women hostage at home after 5:00pm without allowing them to celebrate the Bangla New Year.
Without giving protection, the state and the government extended supports to ‘some miscreants or fundamentalists’ that threatened to create anarchy if the programmes continue in the evening, she said.
‘It is the support to the culture of fear,’ Sultana Kamal said, adding that the government wanted to keep hostage of democracy, enthusiasm to celebrate national programme and secularism inside the room of houses.
‘The government does not want to stand face to face fundamentalists,’ she said, venting her condemnation and protest against the government order.
Trade union leader Wazedul Islam Khan said that it was very mysterious that the law enforcing agencies did not find the accused persons who committed offence of sexual violence during the last Pahela Baishakh in the city.
‘It is immediately needed to arrest and award exemplary punishment to the persons involved in violence,’ he said.
Country director of ActionAid, Bangladesh, Farah Kabir said that the state and the government should not indulge the offence of violence against women.
The government’s decision to disappear women in the afternoon could not solve the problems, rather it must take action against the culprits, she said.
‘Women were kept in safe place in 1971 fearing Pakistani Army. What is the fear after 45 years of independence?’ she said.
Source: New Age
