Ban on evening programmes a medieval decision: Sultana Kamal

Rights activists, trade unionists and women leaders on Tuesday strongly protested against the ban imposed on outdoor programmes after 5:00pm on Pahela Baishakh, Bangla New Year, and termed it a medieval decision.
At a press conference organised by Nari Nirapatta Jote at the National Press Club, they urged the government to withdraw the ban and ensure security for all citizens, including male and female, who would continue their Pahela Baishakh celebrations after 5:00pm to meet its constitutional obligation.
Former adviser to caretaker government Sultana Kamal said that it was a medieval decision to confine women to home after 5:00pm without allowing them to celebrate Bangla New Year.
Without giving protection to celebrators, the government extended support to ‘miscreants or fundamentalists’ who threatened to create anarchy if the celebrations continue in the evening, she said.
She said that the government wanted to confine democracy, enthusiasm to celebrate national programmes and secularism to houses.
Trade union leader Wajed-ul Islam Khan said that it was very mysterious that the law enforcing agencies failed to bring to book the perpetrators of sexual violence during the Pahela Baisakh celebrations in Dhaka in 2015.
ActionAid, Bangladesh country director Farah Kabir said that the government should not encourage violence against women.
Acid Survivors Foundation executive director Selina Ahmed said that culture of impunity was prevailing in the country.
Women cannot be protected keeping them confine to houses, she said, asking what the role of the law enforcers was.
Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at a briefing on April 4 said that the outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh must be finished by 5:00pm on April 14.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Monday officially banned outdoor celebrations of Pahela Baishakh after 5:00pm.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.com