United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said the future Bangladesh will be built on justice and free from discrimination, ensuring people's right to express their opinions freely and enjoy their fair rights.  “We had been unjustly banned, and our leaders and activists subjected to inhumane torture. Even performing religious rituals had become difficult in a Muslim-majority country,” he said while speaking at a members' conference (rukon) organised by Sylhet District Jamaat on Sunday. He said that through the July uprising, a new Bangladesh free from tyranny had emerged and urged all to work together to build the nation. Ghulam Azam was victim of AL tyranny: Jamaat Ameer “This progress cannot be halted by creating divisions. If necessary, we must be prepared to make more sacrifices for the country and remain united against all forms of discrimination and injustice,” he added.  He emphasised the importance of balancing emotions with conscience, saying, “We may not have control over everything, but we must strive for the truth with all our abilities. Moderate emotion is a big strength.”  New party Democratic Power unveils itself The conference, held at an indoor venue in Sylhet city, was presided over by Sylhet District Ameer and Central Majlis-e-Shura member Maulana Habibur Rahman.  Central Executive Council member and Dhaka Metropolitan North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, Central Working Committee member Prof Fazlur Rahman and District Secretary and former Upazila Chairman Md Joynal Abedin also addressed the event.  War against extortion, encroachment will continue: Jamaat Ameer  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the women to move forward breaking all the social barriers -– big or small -– taking the path guided by Begum Rokeya, a pioneer of women rights. “Once you can move forward breaking through this stalemate, there’ll be no more obstacles.  And in our Islam, girls have been given rights…. equal rights (for men and women) are there. Even then, such obstacles come and will come in our country. But we’ve to overcome these obstacles and move forward,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing the Begum Rokeya Padak-2021 awarding ceremony and celebration of Begum Rokeya Day-2021, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Read: Five noted women receive Rokeya Padak-2021 The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the programme at the city’s Osmani Smriti Auditorium, marking the 141th birth and the 89th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain, the pioneer of women's rights in this subcontinent. Describing Begum Rokeya as a model for women, the Prime Minister said, “Hadn’t she lit the light of education by breaking the social stalemate (for women), we wouldn’t have been able to go forward so far today. She had shown us the path. She had made us move forward on the path of light.”   Sheikh Hasina said her government has largely been able to fulfil the dream of Begum Rokeya. She, however, said the thing that hurts her most is violence against women. Though the government enacted laws against rape, women repression and domestic violence, it is essential to change the mindset of men to stop violence against women, she said. “We’ve to change the mentality and bring changes in our minds.  Here trust is the most important thing. We’ve to believe that women are not just objects of enjoyment, women are co-fighters and co-partners, and they have to move forward equally and be given equal rights,” she said.