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Call for raising awareness on the use of hijab Speakers at a roundtable today stressed on raising awareness on the use of hijab and building a positive image about it to remove misconceptions about t Muslim women. They also called for building movement in favour of hijab and decent dresses. The Witness, a Dhaka based study circle of young Muslim women, organised the roundtable at the National Press Club in the city on the occasion of International Hijab Solidarity Day 2009. Presided over by chairman of the organisation Nasima Hasan, the roundtable was addressed, among others, by former sectary Shah Abdul Hannan, former director general of Bangladesh Shishu Academy Prof Jubaida Gulshan Ara, Professor of Bangladesh Agriculture University Dr Azizur Rahman, former lawmaker Ferdous Akter Wahida, Dr Meera Momtaz Sabeka, Shah Abdul Halim, Abul Kalam Azad, Md Hemayet Hossain, Mohammad Mubarak Hossain and Sheikh Sadi. Shah Abdul Hannan said that hijab would ensure security and safety to womenfolk.He pleaded for introducing dress code to popularise use of hijab and eliminate obsenity from the society. Denouncing free mixing in the society, he opined that this practice posed a threat to civilization. Jubaida Gulshan Ara said hijab is also an obligatory code of dress, not merely a religious symbol. As Muslims we are proud of wearing hijab and we don’t feel oppressed by wearing it, she observed.. Associate Professor of BUET Dr Syeda Sultana Razia moderated the programme while secretary general of the Witness Dr Sharmin Islam presented the keynote paper. Dr Sharmin mentioned that wearing hijab is a democratic right of women. No body should compel women to refrain from wearing it, she stressed. She suggested that the government could enact dress code to inspire men and women to wear decent dresses like other Muslim countries including Pakistan and Malaysia.