Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said more than 1550 women seeking to enter the parliament in reserve seats reflect that women’s awakening has occurred in Bangladesh.

‘When we see 1,553 women are hopefuls for only 48 reserved seats we can conclude that women’s awakening has occurred in Bangladesh,’ she said.

The prime minister made this remark while addressing a meeting with the women aspiring for Awami League’s nomination to run for the parliament reserve seats at Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.

She said women were now successfully working and proving their competence in every sector.

‘Wherever we send women, they all work successfully. Our women are showing their competence,’ said Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League.

Citing the success of women in sports and other sectors, she said, ‘There is no logic to create various barriers for women.’

She said that it is an illogical concept that women can’t join sports, business and jobs. Besides, it was a woman (Khadijah) who had first accepted Islam, the PM said.

The PM said Bibi Khadijah had been a businesswoman and she had supported Prophet Hazrat Muhammad with all her money and assets to preach and spread Islam.

Noting that Islam had given enough rights to women, even transgender community, she said, adding, ‘There is no scope to neglect women. We’re very conscious in this regard.’

The prime minister expressed her optimism that the larger number of women would come up through a direct vote in future in Bangladesh.

There are 350 seats in parliament, including 50 reserved seats for women