Guests attend a discussion meeting on increased budgetary allocation for women development at CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Sunday. — New Age photo

Economists and women rights activists on Sunday demanded increased allocation for women in the upcoming budget and its proper utilisation.
They also demanded that the government should put more emphasis on empowerment of women while preparing the budget through creating women-friendly employment and ensuring their education and health.
They were speaking at a roundtable meeting on ‘Gender Sensitive Budget’ organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific.
Sayema Haque Bidisha, assistant professor of economics department at Dhaka University, said the women would not be benefited if the government did not allocate more money for women development.
She explained that though the government made special allocation for women through the women and children ministry, health ministry, education ministry, the allocation for women through ministries such as ministry of housing and public works, land ministries, railways ministry was very insignificant.
Dhaka University economics department professor MM Akash said the government should concentrate more on creating skilled manpower and for that it should promote education for women.
He said a large number of women were involved in the country’s garment sector, but they were left out of education.
The discussants also emphasised ownership of women in the property for women empowerment.
Centre for Policy Dialogue fellow member Debapriya Bhattacharya emphasised proper utilisation of allocation as he said about 40 per cent of the allocation was not utilised properly and was sent back.
He said specific allocation for marginal women should be given more priority while preparing the budget.
He also suggested that the government should increase the income tax ceiling of women to Tk 2,25,000.
Discussants also demanded allocation for
creating daycare facilities for the children of working women, intensive to
ensure maternity leave, establishing hostels for
working women and health facilities for women specially those working at factories.
Among others Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president Ayesha Khanom and general secretary Maleka Banu were present.