They said the media can play a significant role in upholding the glorious role of women in the liberation war before the new generation.

The seminar titled 'Women in the Liberation War and Mass Media' was organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) at the National Press Club in the city.

In her introductory speech, BMP General Secretary Ayesha Khanam said the role of women in the liberation war was not presented with due respect in the mass media.

She said the women are often portrayed as commodity in media.

Highlighting the purpose of the seminar, she said it has been organised to sensitise media to focus the role of women in the liberation war with equal dignity of men.

Presenting a keynote paper, Shanta Maria, a member of Publicity and Mass Media Unit of BMP, said the role of women as freedom fighter in the liberation war was never presented properly in the mass media of a patriarchal society like ours.

She said women were always highlighted in the media as passive participant of the liberation war and never awarded at national level for direct participation in the war.

Shanta, also a journalist of daily Janakantha, elaborated the multiple role of women in the liberation war as direct and indirect participant, chief executor of economic activities and victim of sexual abuse.

She called upon the media to present the courageous role of women in the war properly before the new generation.

Anisul Huq, assistant editor of the Prothom Alo, stressed the need for sensitising the male media men as well as more participation of women in this field in order to bring out positive role of women in the liberation war.

He also called for political commitment to patronise the mass media in upholding a dignified image of women in the war.

Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age, Shuvash Dutta, director and actor, Kazi Sufiya Akhter, editor of Publicity and Mass Media Unit of BMP and Selina Khalek, vice-president of BMP Central Committee, also took part in the discussion.