Education, financial independence key to women’s empowerment: Rizvi

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said today (12 September) that women must be educated and financially self-reliant to be empowered, highlighting government initiatives to promote education and economic independence.

“Two things are extremely important for women’s empowerment- women must be educated and they must become financially self-reliant,” he said.

Speaking while inaugurating a rally in the capital’s Naya Paltan marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, he said the government has taken various initiatives to promote women’s education and economic self-reliance.

He urged Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal leaders and activists to learn about the government’s programmes and communicate them to the people, particularly initiatives such as the Family Card, which he said gives importance to women in families.

Rizvi also said BNP’s leaders and activists are part of the government now that the party is in power, and therefore they have a responsibility to understand and disseminate its public welfare programmes.

“Not everyone will become a minister or an MP. Your representatives have become MPs, and your representatives are becoming ministers and MPs. That means you are becoming one too; we are becoming one too,” he said.

He said the programmes of the government’s initiatives for people’s economic wellbeing and women’s empowerment must be explained to and spread among the people.

Rizvi also recalled the struggles faced by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal leaders and activists during BNP’s past movements, saying many had been arrested, taken on remand and subjected to torture.

He said the organisation had reached its current position through years of struggle and hardship, adding that women are equally capable of running the state and other institutions.