The University of Dhaka’s Women and Gender Studies Department, in partnership with United Nations Bangladesh and the Local Consultative Group on Women’s Advancement and Gender Equality (LCG WAGE), hosted a youth-led dialogue to observe International Women’s Day (IWD).
The event, titled “Visualizing Equality: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” was held at the British Council. It brought together students, policymakers, academics, and development agencies to reflect on the 2026 global theme for IWD.
Inaugurating the programme as the chief guest, Bobby Hajjaj, state minister of the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, emphasised the collective responsibility of all citizens in fostering change.
“Every Bangladeshi has a duty – in every house, street, neighbourhood – as well as the government’s duty through institutions – of changing overall attitudes and cultural sensibilities,” he stated.
Navanita Sinha, deputy representative of UN Women, highlighted that broader development goals cannot be reached without achieving gender equality. She called on men to act as “champions and allies,” noting they are “equal stakeholders in this struggle”.
During an engaging session, students from the University of Dhaka delivered short extempore speeches addressing everyday biases, discriminatory social norms, and challenges related to gender roles and access to justice.
Reflecting on these performances, Baiba Zarina, Chargé d’ Affaires of the European Union delegation to Bangladesh, remarked that policy is strongest when it listens to those who bear the consequences.
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks observed that “gender equality is not a finished product anywhere in the world”.
The dialogue also included remarks from Professor Taiabur Rahman, dean of Faculty of Social Sciences at Dhaka University; Professors Sabiha Yeasmin Rosy and Tania Haque of the Women and Gender Studies department; and Stephen Forbes, director of the British Council.
Additionally, an exhibition featuring cartoons and visual representations of women’s empowerment and gender equality, commissioned by UN Women, was inaugurated at the British Council.
