BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday expressed hope that violence against women including rape, child abuse and all forms of wrongdoing would be eliminated from society.
“We will wipe out rape, violence against women, child abuse and all kinds of wrongdoing from this society,” he said.
He made the remarks before a rally organised in the capital’s Nayapaltan marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.
He said the government led by BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would ensure women’s civic dignity, right to live and legal rights.
“For this, there are two things. Women must be enlightened through education, and women must become mentally self-reliant. The government has taken many efforts and initiatives to make women mentally self-reliant,” Rizvi said.
Rizvi said that incidents of murder and abuse involving women such as Nusrat, Rupa, Khadija, Tonu and Mitu are no longer taking place.
“Today, Nusrat and Rupa are not being killed. Today, Khadija, Tanu and Mitu are not being killed or subjected to abuse. And no leader or activist of the ruling party is involved in such wrongdoing. There is no such news now,” he said.
“This is development. This is progress. This is social development,” Rizvi added.
He also highlighted education as another key means of empowering women.
Rizvi said the leaders of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal are not incompetent and are equally capable of running the state.
“Those who are its leaders, whether at the district level, metropolitan level or central level, none of them is incompetent. They are highly qualified. They are equally capable of running a state and an institution,” he said.
He said BNP’s assumption of power meant that every party worker is now part of the government, not merely those holding official positions.
He said people could now speak and move around freely, while women could travel without fear, and recalled the persecution faced by Mohila Dal leaders during the previous government.
He urged Mohila Dal leaders and activists to closely follow the government’s programmes, particularly its contributions to people and social protection, and communicate those initiatives to the public.
He urged Mohila Dal members to inform people about the government’s measures, particularly those concerning women, saying they are part of both the party and the government.
He said the Prime Minister’s mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, had made education free up to the intermediate level, with no tuition fees required for girls studying at schools and colleges.
“And her eldest son has said that education up to the degree and honours levels will be free, with no tuition fees for girls’ education,” Rizvi said.
He described the initiatives as public welfare measures aimed at empowering women through education and making them financially self-reliant.
“These programmes and initiatives of Tarique Rahman have to be explained to people, communicated to them and spread among them. That is your responsibility because you are part of this party and part of the government,” he said.
Rizvi then inaugurated the colourful rally marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.