Barriers will arise, yet retreat is never an option. With steadfast courage and self-belief, women continue to advance, asserting their rights and creating space for themselves in every sphere of life. This resolute spirit was celebrated on Saturday during the International Women’s Day event, where women from diverse professions shared stories of perseverance, achievement, and social impact.
The programme was hosted by Prothom Alo at Dhaka’s Chayannat Auditorium, with support from City Bank’s women-focused initiative, ‘City Alo’. Distinguished women from various sectors, alongside Prothom Alo and City Alo staff, attended the event. The proceedings opened with enthusiastic applause, creating an atmosphere of joy and inspiration. Sumana Sharmin, Associate Editor of Prothom Alo, welcomed the guests and congratulated them for their participation.
Initiatives Empowering Women
Mahia Juned, Chief Operating Officer of City Bank, presented the bank’s latest women’s healthcare initiative. The project has trained 120 rural women in health-related skills, enabling them to provide community pharmacy services. A documentary showcasing the project offered attendees a detailed view of its impact on rural health access.
| Project | Focus | Beneficiaries | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Healthcare Project | Rural health and pharmacy training | 120 women | Expanded healthcare access |
| Undaunted Merit Scholarships | Higher education support | 1,487 students (47% female) | Scholarships at Asian University for Women |
| Child Sports Training | Sports coaching for disadvantaged children | Multiple children | International competition awards achieved |
Inspirational Stories
The first segment highlighted women who achieved success despite challenges. Mumtaz Ara, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at Dhaka Medical College, described conducting thousands of post-mortems and the urgent need for more female forensic doctors. Jaima Islam, journalist at Daily Star, recounted surviving an attack on the newspaper office, urging women to engage boldly in journalism.
Members of the mountaineering organisation ‘Sultana’s Dream Unbound’—Yasmin Lisa, Nusrat Jahan, Mousumi Akter, and Arpita Debnath—shared their experiences leading Everest expeditions in Langtang and Annapurna, inspiring the audience with tales of courage in extreme conditions.
National table tennis medalist Khai Khai Marma, who has won eight medals including six golds, joined Rupali Chowdhury, Chairperson of Prothom Alo Trust, in celebrating women’s sporting achievements. Khai Khai now aspires to compete in the SEA Games and Olympics.
The Prothom Alo Trust also highlighted its humanitarian efforts, including support for over 450 acid attack survivors and merit-based scholarships such as the Adwitiya Scholarship, which enables first-generation female students to pursue higher education.
Honouring Persistence Beyond Victory
In a notable gesture, six female candidates from the 13th National Parliamentary elections—five of whom were not elected—were recognised for their resilience: Sanjida Islam Tuli, Nabila Tasnid, Sabira Sultana, Monisha Chakraborty, Taslima Akhter, and the elected Rumin Farhana. Sanjida Akhter shared her journey founding ‘Mother’s Call’, an organisation supporting families affected by enforced disappearances, highlighting that commitment to social causes transcends electoral success.
The event emphasised that true triumph lies in persistence, courage, and the refusal to be deterred by obstacles, setting a powerful example for women across generations.