PM urges global leaders to stop the war

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called upon the global leaders to stop the war, saying the women and children are the worst sufferers of the war, reports BSS.

"We don't want any war. Not being a woman politician or a prime minister, as a mother, I am calling upon the world leaders to stop the war, stop the game of arms and the arms competition" she said.

The prime minister said the world has been witnessing the war -- firstly the Russia-Ukraine war and now Israeli attack on the Palestine.

She said this while addressing a gathering of the women entrepreneurs and leaders of women organisations of the ruling Awami League (AL) at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka following the inauguration of the Joyeeta Tower in city's Dhanmondi area.

The premier said the women and children are the worst sufferers of the war, referring to her grave experience of being Pakistan army's captive along with her mother, only sister and three brothers during the War of Liberation in 1971.

"I had the experience of the dreadfulness of the war," she said, adding that she was pregnant while she was captive under Pakistan army.

"We had no furniture and we were not confirmed whether we would get food to eat at that time," she said.

At the function, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's younger daughter and Prime Minister's only sister Sheikh Rehana was present.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, MP, the Ministry's Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman and Bangladesh Mohila Awami League President Meher Afroz Chumki,MP, Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Women and Children Affairs Ministry's Secretary Nazma Mobarek and Joyeeta Foundation Managing Director (MD) Afroza khan were also spoke.

A video documentary on the activities of the Joyeeta Foundation and construction of the Joyeeta Tower was screened at the function.

The prime minister earlier in the morning inaugurated the 12-storey Iconic Joyeeta Tower on one bigha of land involving Taka 168 crore in the city's Dhanmondi area to help empower women economically.

She also visited the Jamdani Gallery and Joyeeta Marketplace housed in the tower.

The Joyeeta Tower was constructed with the state-of-the-art infrastructure to ensure women's economic empowerment by involving them in various business ventures under the Joyeeta brand.

The government had already allotted one bigha of land in each division at a token price for the Joyeeta Foundation.