Liberia’s president, a fellow Liberian and a Yemeni activist received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo yesterday for showing how women facing war and oppression can shed the mantle of victimhood and lead the way to peace and democracy.

Soudamini Sharma, 40, a skilled Manipuri woman in Moulvibazar district, owns a traditional handloom. She is happy as she is getting an SME loan from the bank to help her business grow.

Gender equality is shrewd economics as well as a human right, the World Bank said on Monday in a report that showed countries with better opportunities for women and girls can boost productivity and development.

Women labourers in the district are facing wage discrimination despite daylong hard toil, even sometimes the wage is only one-third than their male fellow workers.

Local boutiques have taken over the scene that was once dominated by Indian designs. They have had a breakthrough in the local fashion arena.

Crowds throng Mirpur Benarasi Palli, famous for its production of flashy saris of Benarasi and Katan genres, for their last moment shopping as Eid-ul-Fitr is only a week away.

Month-Iong international Jamdani Taant Bastra fair began Monday on the premises of Siddeshwari Girls’ School on Baily Road in the city.

Irrespective of social class, women in Bangladesh suffer inequality throughout their lives. Empowerment, equity, MDGs are all buzzwords that we use at various seminars, meetings and talk shows.

For those of you sari lovers out there, your search for exclusive and exceptional saris ends here at Andeem, an initiative of three fashion-loving friends Eeman Ahmed, Emmy Naureen and Farha Deeba.

Self reliance can bring dignity and solvency to one’s life. It needs only sincerity and untiring labour for which one can reach the pinnacle of success.

The country has 100.3 males against 100 females, though over 119 males live in the capital at present against 100 females.

Aspirant women entrepreneurs should first fix their goals and prepare accordingly before the launch of any new venture to be successful, said a leading entrepreneur.

The rare collections of noted fashion designers from Bangladesh and India dominated the four-day Dhaka Fashion Week that concluded in the city on Saturday.

The Jamdani weaving tradition in Bangladesh has an elongated and glorious history. In the first half of the 19 century James Taylor described the figured and flowered Jamdani.

Bilkis Begum Lily was recognised as the best women entrepreneur from Barisal division by the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BWCCI) in recognition of her success. She now plans to create more entrepreneurs like her particularly from the underprivileged segment of the society.