The 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal, the women’s wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was observed in Rangpur on Wednesday with a discussion meeting, prayer session and an enthusiastic procession.

The Rangpur Metropolitan unit of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal organised the programmes at the BNP party office in the city. As part of the anniversary celebrations, the organisation also brought out a procession that paraded through several important streets of Rangpur before ending at the party office.

Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener and Chairman of the Rangpur Development Authority, Mohammad Samsuzzaman Samu, attended the programme as the chief guest.

The discussion meeting was chaired by Arzana Begum, general secretary of the Rangpur Metropolitan unit of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal.

Addressing the gathering, Samsuzzaman Samu said women activists of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal had long played an important role in democratic movements and struggles for people’s rights.

He called upon women to become more actively involved in political and social activities, saying greater participation by women could strengthen movements for democracy, voting rights and the rights of the people.

He also stressed the need to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level. “The Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal must be made more organised and stronger from the grassroots,” he said, urging its leaders and activists to remain united and work for the welfare of the country and its people.

He further called for an effective role of the women’s organisation in every ward and urged party activists to work together for the interests of the organisation and the people.

In her presidential speech, Arzana Begum said activists of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal had always remained active on the streets in movements for democracy and people’s rights and would continue to do so in the future.

She expressed determination to unite activists at every level of the organisation and further strengthen the party’s organisational activities in Rangpur.

Other speakers at the discussion highlighted the objectives behind the establishment of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal and the role of women activists in the country’s democratic movements.

They emphasised the importance of organising women, expanding organisational activities and strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level.

The speakers also said women’s participation was essential for the country’s political and social progress. They called upon the activists of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal to play a responsible role not only in movements for democracy and people’s rights but also in standing beside disadvantaged and ordinary people.

The programme concluded with a special prayer and munajat seeking blessings and well-being for the country and its people, the BNP, and leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal.

Leaders and activists of different levels of the Rangpur Metropolitan Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal, as well as representatives and activists of the BNP and its affiliated and associate organisations, attended the programmes.