Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said on August 22 Islamic fundamentalism is a relatively new phenomenon, which has deviated from the original teachings of Islam.

She said fundamentalism by definition is an extreme position. Hence, fundamentalism–be it Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian or Jewish cannot bring good in the society, he added.

She was addressing at a workshop on `Globalization and rise in Fundamentalism – implications for women and women Workers’ jointly organized by Karmajibi Nari and Committee for Asian Women at BRAC Inn Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 22-24 August 2010.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Choudhury attended the function as the special guest.

President of Karmajibi Nari Shirin Akhter chaired the discussion while Executive president of the Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir and Pregramme Officer of Committee for Asian Women Shuvaycha Odhikari spoke at the function.

Dr Dipu Moni said the patriarchal mind-set of a fundamentalist negates women’s rights and empowerment. They do not endorse that restricting women’s freedom of expression and movement is a violation of human rights. It demoralizes women as well as tolls on their prospects for empowerment through job or entrepreneurship.

As a result, in the developing countries, women become the worst victims of poverty, she added.

“Bangladesh has already achieved gender parity in primary and secondary school enrolment which is in line with the MDG -3. We believe that education is an effective tool to combat fundamentalism”, the minister said.

The Government has promoted women education by waving tuition fees for female students up to Graduate level, she said.

We have embarked on a gender responsive budgeting. “There has been political empowerment of women at all levels. Women can contest direct elections. We have women representation at the local Government.

Important Ministries such as Defence, Power and Energy, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Agriculture are all headed by women for the first time ever. We have by and large mainstreamed gender in our national policies and programmes”, Dr Dipu Mini said.

The attitude towards women can be changed through public awareness raising, advocacy, and positive input of the media. We cannot restrict half of our workforce, fearing the specter of fundamentalism, she said.

Shahriar Kabir alleged that a section of bureaucrats who are loyal to BNP and Jamaat Islami are creating barriers to the trial of war criminals.

He demanded the government identify such bureaucrats and take action against them. He also urged the government to provide the International Crimes Tribunal with adequate logistic support and manpower.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) News

Source: http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=127589&date=2010-08-22