Breaking the barriers
Young, talented, dynamic and die-hard proponents of women power, Jesin, Alif, and Mishu represent a new breed of women who are stamping on an old stereotyped template to come out with conviction and flair. Faizul Khan Tanim and Tahmina Shafique get a feel of that ineffable dazzle photos Momena Jalil
Kazi Jesin
Needless to say that, [...]

THE Chittagong based non-governmental organisation PHREB (Promoting Human Rights and Education in Bangladesh) has been running long-term school-based awareness campaigns since their establishment in 2004. The purpose of these campaigns is to educate young people on human rights issues and encourage them to speak out and defend their own human rights. These young people will [...]

By Azmal Hosen Mamun
Shahnaz is a 14 year old girl with a speech and hearing impairment who lives in the Gomonondi UP of Chittagong District. When she was very young, her mother took her to see a village doctor and then to a herbal doctor, but neither of them were able to remedy her situation. [...]

Industries minister Dilip Barua said the government will take necessary steps for capacity building of women entrepreneurs.
“Steps will be taken to offer women entrepreneurs plots in Special Economic Zones and in BSCIC areas,” he assured.
The minister said that the long-standing demand for modernising the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) will also be met [...]

India’s newly-elected parliament began its inaugural session Monday with lawmakers set to elect the country’s first ever woman speaker, who is also an “untouchable” Dalit.
Veteran and first-time MPs, including 78 ministers of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s cabinet, were sworn in by an interim speaker at the start of the brief session that ends on June [...]

IT is a success story that makes us believe once again in the inner potential of the people of this country who can do wonders against all odds if given a little help. And our morale gets a bigger boost when our womenfolk living in the fringes dare to come out of the shadows to [...]

As a performer she enjoys a charismatic fame; the epitome of her career was in the ’90s. Through her convincing performances in many popular TV plays as well as in theatre, Bipasha became a face known and liked by everyone, young and old. However, she gradually reduced working in the media as she became more [...]

Women lawmakers yesterday vowed to work towards ensuring women’s empowerment and to be vocal on women’s rights issues in parliament.
At a reception ceremony organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation, the women MPs who are elected for the first time shared their experiences, struggle, electioneering and their priorities.
“I will work for the development of [...]

About 15000 poor women of Faridpur district have achieved economic self-reliance by gardening of furits and vegetables around their homesteads during the last few years.
Before taking up the gardening, at least half of them were living in abject poverty in their respective villages.
Officials of the Agriculture Extension Department said that the [...]

“THOUGH I was married at a very young age, I always knew that I was made for some thing more.” This is how Shahnaz Hossain, one of the world’s greatest woman entrepreneurs expresses herself when she tells her story of success. Credited with single- handedly placing Indian herbals on the world cosmetic map, Shahnaz’s success [...]

Challenging the frontiers of poverty reduction

THERE is always a group of people who slip through the cracks of every form of poverty alleviation strategy tried and tested until now. Be it the manual labourers living daily from hand to mouth or the women and children who work in our houses in exchange of meagre sums [...]

WHEN I first heard of the Asian University for Women, I immediately identified with its mission and dream. I had seen too many bright young women in Phnom Penh complain about the low quality of their education, and seen too many girls in rural areas drop out of high school because they didn’t see opportunities [...]

Stories of Change, a 55-minute documentary by young filmmakers Kamar Ahmad Simon and Sara Afreen that portrays the challenging lives of five successful women, was premiered on March 14 at the Russian Cultural centre.
A panel discussion followed the screening where human rights activist Hameeda Hossain, media personality Samia Zaman and filmmaker Tareque Masud discussed several [...]

The government for the very first time has awarded eight women for their achievement in the field of small and medium entrepreneurship.
The awards are given in three categories: best woman entrepreneur, best innovative woman entrepreneur and best organisation administered by women. The award recipients are: Nilima Akther Chowdhury of Chittagong National Training Academy (1st position), [...]

Stories of Change, a 55-minute documentary by young filmmakers Kamar Ahmad Simon and Sara Afreen that portrays the challenging lives of five successful women, was premiered on March 14 at the Russian Cultural centre.
A panel discussion followed the screening where human rights activist Hameeda Hossain, media personality Samia Zaman and filmmaker Tareque Masud discussed several [...]