Staff correspondent :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that women and children are the most affected by the war while calling on the world leaders to stop the war.
He said, ‘We don’t want any war. I am not only a woman politician or a prime minister but also a mother I request world leaders to stop this war. Stop this weapon game. This is an arms race.’
The Prime Minister said, today we see the ravages of a war across the world. Ukraine-Russia war including Israel’s attack on Palestine.
Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the chief guest at a rally held after the inauguration of Joyita Tower in the presence of women entrepreneurs and leaders of various women’s organizations of Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban today. 
He said, if there is a war, if there is an arms race, our women and children suffer the most. They suffer more.
Referring to our various experiences, he said, ‘In 1971, the Pakistani Army took my father prisoner. Then the mother was imprisoned. He was in detention along with his younger sister Rehana and younger brother. Even she was pregnant at that time.
He said, ‘We had no furniture, there was no guarantee of food. So I have experience of the terrible conditions that arise during war.’
Sheikh Rehana, younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and younger sister of Prime Minister, was present at the event.
State Minister for Women and Child Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Tofazzal Hossain Miah, Secretary Secretary to the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Najma Mubarek and Managing Director of Joyita Foundation Afroza Khan spoke at the event.
A video documentary on the activities of Jayita Foundation and the newly constructed Jayita Tower was screened at the event.
Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed 12-story iconic Jayita Tower in Dhanmondi area of ​​the capital. Jayita’s program was launched with the aim of building a women-friendly individual marketing network across the country.
The multi-storied Jayita Iconic Tower built on a one bigha land at a cost of Tk 168 crore has a child day care centre, design centre, beauty parlour, gymnasium for women, swimming pool for women and children, multipurpose hall, seminar hall, bank, food-court and cafe. Besides, e-Joita online marketplace has been launched.
On December 1, 2021, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone for the construction of 12-storey Joyita Tower at a cost of Tk 168 crore on 27 (old) road of Dhanmondi in the capital.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Joyita Foundation program on November 16, 2011 with the aim of economic empowerment of women in Bangladesh.
In the meantime, the government has allocated one bigha of land to each section of the country at a nominal price.

The Prime Minister said that many countries talk about gender equality. But in Bangladesh it is the opposite. Girls go to school more than boys, and do better in results. Women are also doing well in sports. Sports are going on in primary and secondary schools, where girls are more involved, his government has made arrangements.
Pointing out that the Father of the Nation emphasized on the economic independence of women, the Prime Minister said that rights should not be called rights. The right will be only when the woman can enter the house with 10 rupees. In other words, if they can achieve economic power, girls do not have to wait for anyone – this is what her father said.
He said that his government, along with the development of the country, has established women’s rights, has provided protection by providing death penalty for rape and acid throwing, has also made laws to protect women from violence, and confirmed the identity of father and mother in the case of child identification. Also, the government has provided allowances for poor mothers, elderly women, widows, widows to make their lives meaningful. In this budget, women friendly budget has been given in 43 ministries.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, our efforts are to establish the rights of women in all areas. By forming the government in 1996, we formulated the Women’s Development Policy. But unfortunately we could not come to power in 2001. After Khaleda Zia came to power, she canceled all the rights of women. Because, he formed the government with Jamaat-e-Islam. As a result, their 20-party coalition stopped women’s rights. After Awami League came to power again in 2009, we are again formulating policies and implementing them.
Sheikh Hasina said, our girls will go to all fields starting from administration. I have made them OC, SP, judge. Many have raised questions about this during SP posting, but I have not heard it. We have reserved seats and posts for women in every place.
He said, the first person who embraced Islam was a woman. Khadija, the wife of our Prophet (PBUH). Who helped spread Islam. Who has done business as a woman, supported her husband, then why should women be housebound now? Yes, with modesty will go everywhere.
The Prime Minister said that her younger sister Sheikh Rehana has encouraged women to create a separate chamber for women entrepreneurs.
The Awami League president also said to the women that they have made so much progress today because they voted in boats. I can take the country forward with women. Take care that our progress continues.
Reiterating the call to increase overall production by bringing every inch of uncultivated land under cultivation in the country, he said that the economy has been under pressure due to the impact of the global corona outbreak and war. Commodity prices have increased. Ship fares have increased. For this, I call upon the brothers and sisters, who have the opportunity, to cultivate themselves. If we plant ourselves, we can meet our needs. I will earn my own money, stand on my own feet.  
He said, my mother gave strength and courage to my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib by her side. He used to say to his father, you will not worry. My mother has seen everything to make us study and take care of the family. Even while her father was in prison, my mother played a role in the organization of the movement as well as his efforts to release him.
Referring to his mother’s historic role in accelerating the country’s independence, the head of government said, ignoring the opinion of big leaders, his mother did not respond to the proposal of the father of the nation to participate in the parole talks during the Agartala conspiracy case and even did not budge even during the historic six-point period. . He also said that it was on his advice that the Father of the Nation delivered his historic speech on March 7, not taking the opinions of Nana Muni but from the thoughts he had for the people.
Sheikh Hasina said that the father of the nation sacrificed his life to free people from deprivation. Imprisoned many times. He gave us freedom. On his call, the people of this country won the war of liberation. He has started the socio-economic development of the people of this country. His mother always encouraged him from side and gave her life with the father of the nation.
He said, we have established Joyita Foundation to empower women and create employment opportunities for women. I made this tower for the exhibition of products produced by women. The land of Ganabhaban is blessed today, skilled and successful women entrepreneurs from remote areas have come here.
The Prime Minister said, when men could not come down on the streets, our women leaders and workers were on the streets in the agitation and struggle by enduring the persecution of BNP-Jamaat. He also remembered with respect the women who sacrificed their lives in the movement and struggle, including the woman leader Ivy Rahman, who was killed in the 21st August grenade attack.