Ensure equal land rights for women

Speakers at a memorial lecture yesterday stressed the government's initiative to ensure equal rights for the country's women.

Besides, they urged the government to withdraw its reservation on two articles of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) treaty and its full implementation to ensure women's equal rights.

Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Dil Monowara Monu Shajan Parshad jointly organised the "Dil Monowara Monu Memorial Lecture" at the capital's Jatiya Press Club, said a press release.

The third death anniversary of writer-journalist Dil Monowara was observed on October 14.

Chairing the event, ALRD Vice President Rawshan Ara Firoz said the main subject of Dil Monowara's writings was the plight of underprivileged women.

Delivering the memorial lecture, Prof Sadeka Halim, chairperson of Dhaka University's sociology department, stressed ensuring equal land rights for women by bringing the necessary change to relevant laws.

Besides, she stressed formulating new laws and full implementation of the Cedaw treaty.

In his welcome speech, ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda said while submitting a review report on the Cedaw from Bangladesh in the past, little importance was given to women's land rights issues.

However, as a civil society organisation, ALRD prepared a shadow report highlighting the issue and submitted it to the UN committee concerned, he said.  

Ensure equal land rights for women | The Daily Star