Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram has said women should be given the opportunity to be directly elected in 100 parliamentary seats instead of relying on reserved seats in parliament.

He made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest at the centenary celebration of Barishal Government Girls' High School on Friday.

To ensure women's political empowerment, they must be given the opportunity to contest direct elections, the Speaker said.

"Women should be given the opportunity to be directly elected through people's votes in 100 seats, as they are in no way behind," he said.

Speaking about women's education, Hafiz Uddin said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was a pioneer in promoting female education, having introduced free education for girls up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level.

He also said he would discuss with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman the possibility of introducing free education for girls up to the bachelor's degree level.

Highlighting the historical significance of Barishal Government Girls' High School, the Speaker said the first secretariat of the Liberation War was established at the school.

The institution made an important contribution to the history of Bangladesh's Liberation War, and history would remember its achievement, he added.

The two-day centenary celebration was chaired by Barishal City Corporation Administrator and former student of the school Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin.

Barishal-5 MP Mazibar Rahman Sarwar, along with former and current students of the school, attended the programme.