Barishal, Nov. 13 -- Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram has said women should be given the opportunity to be directly elected in 100 parliamentary seats instead of relying on reserved seats in parliament.

He made the remarks while addressing a programme as the chief guest at the centenary celebration of Barishal Government Girls' High School on Friday.

To ensure women's political empowerment, they must be given the opportunity to contest direct elections, the Speaker said.

"Women should be given the opportunity to be directly elected through people's votes in 100 seats, as they are in no way behind," he said.

Speaking about women's education, Hafiz Uddin said former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was a pioneer in prom...