EachforEqual: International Women's Day | Dhaka Tribune

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, colorful programs and events were observed across the country and around the world on March 8.

The theme for this year's International Women's Day campaign is “EachforEqual”.

To check if the theme reflects current social factors in Bangladesh, this correspondent spoke to some successful women who work in different sectors of the country.

They stated unequivocally: “Our society has undoubtedly undergone a change; women now contribute in many ways as men and a woman now runs the country, but again when it comes to empowering women, society still has a long way to go to establish gender parity. Women always play the second role against men when it comes to empowering society. "

According to the GEF report on the Global Gender Gap Report 2020: "Western Europe currently has the highest gender parity with 76.7%. Being the only one among the top 100 of its South Asian neighbors, Bangladesh has reached the 50th position out of 153 countries in the world. "

Reflecting the magnitude of the gender challenge, Bangladesh is the only one of the seven South Asian countries studied to be in the top 100 of the World Gender Index. gender gap.

Jobera Rahman Linu, President of the Dhaka Cycling Sports Club and a former national table tennis star, told Dhaka Tribune: "March 8 is just one day when we are talking about rights and "Empower women. Financial prosperity can never empower women until the time we get respect from our families."

Adding to her statement, she said, “Most of the women who play sports come from low-income families. Rather than developing their talents, women go into the sport to earn some money, "she added. "I have seen women players earn less than men by playing football or cricket. Even the cash prize is sometimes lower for women, and society only encourages women to participate in indoor games like failures."

Nusrat Naher Naznin Santa, video reporter at Somoy Media Ltd, who started working 10 years ago, remembers the first time she had to go outside to cover a mission with her male colleagues. She was taunted by people from different walks of society, reminding her that wearing cameras was a job for men only.

Santa continued: "The courage to take a camera and run outside came from the love of the camera itself and my father's endless support. For me, the journey has never been smooth. I always face a lot of teasing when I go outside to cover my chores. "

Najmun Nahar, a peripatetic, has been traveling the world with the flag of Bangladesh for 19 years. Brunei is the 140th country she has visited as a representative of her country.

After graduating from Rajshahi University, Najmun started applying for scholarships at universities abroad with the dream of traveling the world.

Najmun has visited many countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. She has also traveled to many European countries.

But when she started traveling to the districts of Bangladesh, she faced many obstacles from society. As a result, she could not travel to many places in her own country.

Najmun said: "First of all, to become a peripatetician and especially a peripatetic female, we will have to ignore any insecurity that can create obstacles so that we can reach our goal of traveling. I still face a lot of gender discrimination when traveling alone, but that never stopped me from achieving my goals. "

She advised girls in Bangladesh to travel more despite the obstacles before them.

"If I had stopped when I was mocked, teased or bullied by the so-called men of society, I would never have had the chance to realize my dreams," added Najmun .