Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader MP opened the HerNet TV through a grand launching ceremony held at Gulshan Club in the city.
With the slogan ‘Holding Hands Together’, the television channel will give them an opportunity to be heard on issues that may not necessarily command coverage in the mainstream media.
The goal of HerNet TV is to break away from the one-dimensional representation of women by creating such documentaries, factual entertainment, and educational, informative and reality programmes for female audiences.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Begum Fazilatunnesa Indira and RAB Director General Dr Benazir Ahmed spoke at the launching event as special guests.
Besides, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller, Brazil Ambassador to Bangladesh Joao Tabajara Jr, HerNet TV chairman Hosna Pradhan and HerNet TV managing director Alisha Pradhan, herself an actress and model, spoke on the occasion.
Addressing the event, Obaidul Quader said Bangladesh attained huge progress in women’s empowerment. “The change maker (in the area) is a woman who is our leader,” he said referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said Sheikh Hasina steered Bangladesh to a new height. “In the last 44 years of history of Bangladesh, there was no efficient, bold and honest ruler like Sheikh Hasina, who is also a woman,” he added.
The Road Transport and Bridges Minister expected the newly launched HerNet TV will maintain decency avoiding propaganda, obscenity and vulgarism.
He urged the media to criticize the government in constructive ways so that mistakes can be corrected.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam said they want to make Dhaka city as a women-friendly one. “We want to build a women-friendly Dhaka city.”
He said the city corporation will install complaint boxes in 58 places so that women can lodge their complaints over various issues particularly sexual harassment seeking remedy.