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October 30, 2000
The Daily Star
International collaborative efforts are on towards establishment
of an Asian University for Women in Bangladesh soon , Lone Dybkjaer, a
member of the European parliament representing Danish Social Party, Said
recently.
The World Bank and UNESCO have, for the first time, garnered support to
set up an international University exclusive for women. The proposed
institution, likely to be located in Mymensingh, would carve a place for
the country in the world map of academic excellence.
A World Bank-UNESCO
taskforce, earlier formed to do a feasibility study, has already submitted its report, proposing Bangladesh as the
venue. The taskforce worked from 1997 to 1999 to prepare the draft
report.
DybkJaer, co-chairperson of the international support committee for the Asian
University for Women in Bangladesh , was in the city recently on her way
back home fro Seoul on completion the second collaborative meeting between
ASEAN and EU. Her husband Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen also
attended the Seoul meeting.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily star. DybkJaer Recently talked at
length about the philosophy behind the proposed university. The proposal
for this country as a place where empowerment of women is
making a radical and rapid progress. " DybkJaer said. "Bangladesh has basically one ethnic society and it is basically a
secular country. Besides because of its broad and liberal outlook Bangladesh
draws attention.
The standard of education at the primary and secondary levels she said, needs
to be raised.
During her stay in Bangladesh, DybkJaer met a cross -section of people,
she met the Prime Minister, the Education Minister, officials of UNICEF and UNDP,
leaders of the non-government organizations (NGOs) and the civil society.
Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina said that her government might not be able to
provide funds but would dinate land in Mymensingh for the Asian University
for Women.
The university is likely to have a multinational faculty with students
coming from all parts of the world, she said, adding that decision in this
regards has not been made yet.
When asked to comment on Bangladesh politics, the veteran parliamentarian
said that she did not support the boycott of parliament by any party
anywhere.
Having won the elections, the parliamentarians are responsible to their
constituents and boy cot certainly did not convey the election mandate of the
electorate, she said. However, she did have a point of apprectation for the
opposition parties. " I am glad to see the opposition participating in the
parliamentary standing committees," DybkJaer said.
Interestingly, Lone
dybkJaer, a former cabinet Minister for environment and a
member of a Folketing, the Danish parliament , for 18 years, and her Prime
Minister Husband belong to two parties- Social Liberal party and Social
Democratic Party respectively. Incidentally tow parties are now part of a
coalition.
Then why did
the husband not appoint her as a Cabinet member?
" It was my party leader, and not my husband who decided that I
should stay out of the Cabinet," dybkJaer, who was first elected to
the parliament back in 1973, said. " And I Think it was a correct
decision."
" If you are married to the
Prime Minister, it sometimes makes
things difficult, " she added.
How does she feel about the fact that both the
Prime Minister and the Leader
of the Opposition in Bangladesh are women ?
"Your country has immense and untapped possibilities . It is not
just enough to have women leaders.
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