Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s women affairs secretary and reserved seat Member of Parliament Nurunnisa Siddika questioned why boys’ education is not made free if both boys and girls have equal rights. She raised the issue during her speech in the national parliament’s budget session on Wednesday, emphasizing that for three decades, women’s education has received special focus and women have advanced significantly in education.

Siddika argued that if equality is to be ensured, boys should also receive free education. Citing examples from South Asian countries, she noted that Bangladesh offers free education only up to the fifth grade, which she said lags behind other nations. She also pointed out that while government primary schools provide food and clothing, most students study in private schools, questioning why such students should face discrimination.

She further called for resolving disparities in the lives and workplaces of teachers in government and private institutions.