Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a heartfelt plea to global leaders, emphasizing the urgent need to halt conflicts, stating that women and children are the most severely affected by wars. Regardless of her role as a female politician and prime minister, she appealed to world leaders to put an end to armed conflicts and the arms race, stressing the devastating impact of war on women and children.
Addressing an assembly of women entrepreneurs and leaders from women’s organizations affiliated with the ruling Awami League, Prime Minister Hasina highlighted the ongoing global conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israeli attack on Palestine. She made these comments following the inauguration of the Joyeeta Tower in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area.
Prime Minister Hasina shared her personal experience, having been a captive of the Pakistan army during the War of Liberation in 1971 along with her mother and siblings. She stressed the immense suffering endured by women and children during wars and reflected on her own time in captivity while pregnant, facing uncertainty about basic necessities like food and shelter.
Among the attendees at the event was Sheikh Rehana, the younger daughter of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Several key figures, including State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, and parliamentary committee chairman Meher Afroz Chumki, were also present.
The Joyeeta Tower, a 12-story building constructed at a cost of Taka 168 crore, was inaugurated earlier in the day by Prime Minister Hasina. The tower is designed to empower women economically and includes facilities like the Jamdani Gallery and Joyeeta Marketplace.
In her remarks, Prime Minister Hasina expressed the government’s commitment to women’s financial empowerment and cited her father, Bangabandhu, who believed that economic independence was crucial for women’s empowerment. She highlighted her government’s measures, such as reserving posts for women in local councils and changing the identity of children to include both parents’ names.
Prime Minister Hasina noted that her father had introduced women to the judiciary and police and emphasized that the country could not progress while leaving half the population at home. She also recognized women’s achievements in various fields, mentioning Rawshan Ara, the first woman superintendent of police.
Hasina encouraged women to secure their positions through education, skill, and hard work, rather than relying on the mercy of others. She expressed her satisfaction with women’s increasing presence in various facets of society, urging them to cultivate their land in response to global economic challenges.
The prime minister praised her government’s efforts in transforming Bangladesh into a developing and digitally advanced nation and urged women to actively participate in these endeavors. She also called on the public to remain vigilant against any hindrances to ongoing development, pointing out the past challenges posed by militancy, terrorism, and corruption.
Finally, Hasina’s vision for Bangladesh is to achieve developed, prosperous, and smart status by 2041, and she urged citizens to support her party in the upcoming general election to sustain the country’s progress and development.
