Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. File photo

DHAKA, Sept 12, 2026 (BSS) - Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today called upon the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal to highlight the various government programmes aiming to enlighten women through education and making them financially self-reliant.

He made the remarks while speaking at a brief rally held to inaugurate a colourful procession at Nayapaltan in the capital, marking the 48th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.
 
Following the rally, the procession commenced in front of the BNP's central office at Nayapaltan. The procession paraded Nightingale intersection and concluded back reaching the BNP's central office.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, also the political adviser to the prime minister, said Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal has reached its present position through immense hardship and struggle, while its leaders at the district, metropolitan, and central levels are competence.
 
Women are equally capable of running the state or any institution, he said.

"As the BNP is in power, people can now speak and move without any hindrance. In the past, many female leaders, including Afroza Abbas and Sultana Ahmed, were imprisoned, remanded, and subjected to torture,” he said.
 
Rizvi said: “Their blood and sweat contributed to the formation of the current government. So, you too are a part of this government."
 
Highlighting the government's social safety net programmes, the BNP acting secretary general said the initiative to provide 'Family Cards' to women from poor, helpless, and destitute families is a groundbreaking step toward women's empowerment.

“You should observe the contributions the government is making for the people and social safety, and inform commoners those,” he said.

About violence against women and children, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Today, we no longer see incidents where women like Nusrat or Rupa are murdered, or where events like the attack on Khadija occur; they are not subjected to such abuse, and no leaders or activists from the ruling party are involved in such misdeeds. There are no longer any reports of such incidents. This is social development.”

He said the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal will work to eradicate all forms of misdeeds, including rape, violence against women, and child abuse, from society.
 
The government will ensure women's civic status, right to survive, and legal rights, he said.

Highlighting the importance of education and financial self-reliance for women, Rizvi said women must be enlightened through education and become financially independent.

He said the former Prime Minister, late Deshnetri Begum Khaleda Zia, had made women's education free up to the intermediate level.
 
Furthermore, her eldest son, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has pledged to make girls' education free up to the degree and honours levels.
 
This is a public-interest initiative and a step towards women's empowerment, he said.

“It is your responsibility to explain and disseminate Tarique Rahman's people-friendly and women-empowerment programmes to the people. Just as the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal took to the streets in the past -- ignoring oppression, false cases, remand, and imprisonment -- you must work with the same spirit to implement these programmes. This is your primary responsibility,” he said.

President of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal Afroza Abbas and its General Secretary Sultana Ahmed, along with leaders and activists from various levels of the organisation, were present on the occasion.