President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday called for effective and strict measures to prevent violence against women and address emerging challenges such as online defamation and cyberbullying targeting women.

“Women and girls must not become victims of neglect, abuse or discrimination. We want to build a livable Bangladesh where every woman can grow up in a safe environment, become self-reliant and have opportunities to lead and where every girl has equal chances to dream and realise those dreams,” he said.

The President made the remarks while addressing a programme marking International ‘Shreshtha Women’s Day 2026 and the conferring of ‘Adamya Nari’ awards at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

He said the government is taking strict steps to ensure speedy trials and exemplary punishment for violence against women.

Strong political will and firm legal action had produced positive results earlier, he added.

The President paid deep tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in movements and struggles for democracy and people’s rights from the 1971 Liberation War to the 2024 movement to protect the country and its people.

Shahabuddin said acid violence in Bangladesh had once been brought under control through firm political commitment and strict legal measures.

He said in 2002 the government of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia enacted laws to control acid use and acid attacks and ensured speedy trials and tough administrative actions, which brought acid terrorism close to zero. “The example could serve as a model in efforts to prevent violence against women.”

The President said social harassment, online character assassination and cyberbullying against women have emerged as new challenges and the government is taking special measures to address these crimes.

He stressed that both men and women must work together to build a livable and just Bangladesh by ensuring women’s safety and equal opportunities.

Shahabuddin said women make up more than half of Bangladesh’s population and play a significant role in almost every sector of society and the economy.

Millions of women working in the readymade garment sector are a key driver of the country’s export earnings, while women are also leading successfully in education, healthcare, agriculture, administration, science and technology, media and sports, he added.

“Foundation for women’s political and economic empowerment was laid by proclaimer of independence late President Ziaur Rahman, who established the first Women Affairs cell in the President’s Secretariat in 1976. Later, a separate Ministry of Women’s Affairs was formed in 1978, which was later transformed into the present Ministry of Women and Children Affairs during Khaleda Zia’s tenure,” said the President.

The President also said the government of Khaleda Zia introduced compulsory primary education and free education for girls up to class XII.

Stipends for girls were also introduced to boost female education, a programme widely praised internationally and recognised by the World Bank and other organisations as a successful model for the developing world, he added.

Highlighting the government’s “family card” programme aimed at empowering economically disadvantaged women, the President said the initiative will begin on March 10, initially providing monthly financial assistance to women heads of marginal poor families.

He expressed hope that the programme would help strengthen the economic independence of such families.

Congratulating the recipients of the ‘Shreshtha Adamya Nari’ awards on International Women’s Day, the President said their achievements serve as inspiration for society and role models for the next generation.

Physician and social worker Zubaida Rahman, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Farzana Sharmin, Resident Representative of the UNDP, Bangladesh Stefan Liller, , members of the cabinet and parliament, award recipients and their representatives were present at the event.

The President handed over awards to six women for their outstanding contributions. 

Barrister Zaima Rahman, granddaughter of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, received the award on behalf Khaleda Zia for her contributions to women’s education and the advancement of democracy.