ADAB holds discussion on occasion of International Women’s Day

ADAB (Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh) convened a discussion meeting in honor of International Women’s Day 2026.

Dr. Sadia Sharmin, Additional Secretary of the Planning Division at the Ministry of Planning, attended the meeting as the chief guest, held in the conference room of the NGO Affairs Bureau located in Agargaon, Dhaka. ADAB Chairperson Anwar Hossain preside over the discussion.

Special guests included Maria Salam, News Editor at Views Bangladesh; Kazi Baby, Executive Director of PDAP and Treasurer of ADAB; Rabeya Sultana, Program Advisor at Gano Unnayan Kendra (GUK); and Syeda Shamima Sultana, Executive Director of KHRDS and Executive Member of ADAB. The keynote address was delivered by Tahmina Bashar Nazneen, Program Officer at ADAB, and the event was moderated by Mr. Kawsar Alam Munshi, Program Director of ADAB.

In her address, Dr. Sadia Sharmin emphasized, "Women's rights are human rights. Given that women constitute half of the nation's population, we must consider inclusive development by enhancing their capacity to safeguard their rightful entitlements. To uphold women's rights and justice, all entities, including families, society, the state, NGOs, and others, must implement effective measures in practice, not merely in theory. We need to evaluate our progress, identify obstacles, and devise actionable plans."

Maria Salam, as a special guest, remarked, "It is the state's duty to safeguard women's rights, eradicate discrimination, and ensure the security and rights of every citizen to prevent abuse. The state must take appropriate actions promptly."

Kazi Baby stated, "It is essential to adopt proactive measures for marginalized women; to enhance women's representation in local governance; to guarantee equal rights for women in agriculture, private land, and property; to provide vocational training in educational institutions; and to ensure equal rights for women regarding property."

Rabeya Sultana emphasized that safeguarding women's rights and eradicating discrimination necessitates political dedication and the empowerment of women. The foundation of family, society, and the state lies with the people. Primarily, there is a need for a shift in mindset among the populace. Citing a UNFP study, she noted that elderly women often lead neglected lives as dependents and called for the establishment of specialized health services for this demographic.

The speakers highlighted that women's suffering begins at birth and continues throughout their lives, originating from the family unit. Women face various forms of abuse, harassment, and discrimination across familial, social, economic, and governmental domains. Child marriage persists, domestic workers, laborers, and expatriate women endure oppression, and their contributions are undervalued. Social media has become a breeding ground for negative portrayals of women and cyberbullying. No individual, from children to the elderly, is immune to the threat of rape. Disturbingly, even children are not safe from their fathers, which is a source of great shame. Political parties show little commitment to nominating women, while reserved seats further marginalize them. Instances of mob justice have resulted in severe harassment of women. The oppression of women often begins within their own homes.

To uphold women's rights, the speakers asserted that the manner in which women have proven their strength by supporting their families and children through various crises demonstrates their resilience. Women are now involved in all types of work. To advocate for women's rights, it is imperative for everyone to voice their concerns, raise awareness, and take decisive actions from their respective positions.

Among the various recommendations proposed are: halting all forms of violence and abuse against women and girls, ensuring expedited trials for cases of women's abuse, declaring a zero-tolerance policy and establishing a task force; implementing a direct election system for reserved women's seats in the National Parliament; increasing the number of reserved seats by one-third; and organizing training and campaigns to enhance awareness regarding digital security and the protection of women on digital platforms to combat online harassment and cyberbullying.

At the end of the meeting, ADAB Director Mr. AKM Jasim Uddin summarized the discussion.

In his closing speech, ADAB Chairperson said, "Today is a day to celebrate women's strength, struggle, and achievements. Our job is to strengthen women's voices and strengthen leadership. To build a just society, we will move forward by educating both boys and girls in the principles of justice."