Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 8th March 2026, 4:45 AM
Obstacles are inevitable, yet surrender is not an option. With courage, confidence, and determination, women continue to assert their rights and carve out their place in society. This spirit of resilience was vividly displayed during the International Women’s Day special event held on Saturday, bringing together courageous women from diverse professions and backgrounds.
The programme was organised by Prothom Alo at the Chayannat Auditorium in Dhaka, with support from City Bank’s women-focused banking initiative, ‘City Alo’. Distinguished women and staff from both organisations attended the event. The afternoon commenced with a vibrant round of applause, setting a joyful and inspiring tone. Sumana Sharmin, Associate Editor of Prothom Alo, welcomed the guests and extended congratulations for their participation.
The event highlighted significant initiatives aimed at empowering women. Mahia Juned, Chief Operating Officer of City Bank, introduced their new project on women’s healthcare. Through this initiative, 120 women from rural areas have received healthcare training and are now delivering pharmacy services at the community level. A detailed documentary provided insights into the project’s scope and impact.
| Initiative | Description | Beneficiaries | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s Healthcare Project | Training rural women in pharmacy services | 120 women | Improved healthcare access in communities |
| Undaunted Merit Scholarship | Supporting higher education for talented students | 1,487 students (47% female) | Scholarships to Asian University for Women and beyond |
| Child Sports Training | Providing sports coaching for underprivileged children | Multiple children | International competition awards won |
The first segment celebrated women who have overcome adversity to achieve excellence. Mumtaz Ara, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at Dhaka Medical College, shared her experience conducting thousands of post-mortems and stressed the urgent need for more female forensic doctors. Jaima Islam, journalist at the Daily Star, recounted the 18 December attack on the newspaper office, urging women to participate more boldly in mainstream journalism.
Members of the mountaineering group ‘Sultana’s Dream Unbound’—Yasmin Lisa, Nusrat Jahan, Mousumi Akter, and Arpita Debnath—shared their experiences leading successful Everest expeditions, inspiring many with their achievements in extreme environments.
In a lighter moment, Rupali Chowdhury, Chairperson of Prothom Alo Trust, joined national table tennis medalist Khai Khai Marma to celebrate her achievements. Khai Khai has won eight national medals, including six golds, and now aims to participate in the SEA Games and the Olympics.
The event also highlighted humanitarian work by the Prothom Alo Trust, including support for over 450 acid attack survivors and the provision of merit-based scholarships, including the Adwitiya Scholarship for higher education of first-generation learners.
In an unusual but powerful gesture, six prominent female candidates from the 13th National Parliamentary elections—five of whom were unsuccessful—were honoured for their courage and persistence. Among them were Sanjida Islam Tuli, Nabila Tasnid, Sabira Sultana, Monisha Chakraborty, Taslima Akhter, and the victorious Rumin Farhana. Their stories exemplified that perseverance, not victory alone, defines true success.
Sanjida Akhter shared how she founded the organisation ‘Mother’s Call’ to support families affected by enforced disappearances, demonstrating that dedication to social causes transcends electoral outcomes.
The event reinforced a universal message: despite barriers, women continue to advance with resilience, courage, and determination, inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.
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