LIUPCP celebrates International Women’s Day 2020 across the cities

DHAKA, MARCH 8 (2020): Livelihoods Improvement of Urban Poor Communities Project (LIUPCP) has celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020 across different city corporations and paurashavas with festivity and funfair as elsewhere across the globe highlighting women’s rights and equality.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2020 was “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” The Day is observed every year on March 8 to celebrate the women’s movement and struggle for equality.

Elaborate programs were organized centrally in Dhaka as well as in 19 city corporations and paurashavas across the country. As part of programs, poster and slogan competition was organized jointly with Department of Women and Gender Studies-DWGS, University of Dhaka.

LIUPCP programs along with key stakeholders has drawn public attention to the activism of women and girls of urban poor settlements who are challenging the deeply rooted gender norms, stereotypes and discriminatory practices.

This project celebrates IWD 2020 in order to mobilize women and girls of urban poor settlements in a way so that they realize their rights, contribution and role while engaging men and boys together to act against gender-based violence, injustice, or kind of deprivation.

Different city corporations and paurashavas, including Cumilla, Cox’s Bazar, Gopalganj, Noakhali, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Narayanganj, Saidpur, Khulna and Rajshahi have organized series of events such as colorful rally, essay completion, Gamvira, cultural drama and other school-based campaigns disseminating messages on women rights as human rights, breaking stereotypes, social stigma and way forward to prevent current increasing rate of gender based violence.

Other cities like Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Kushtia, Faridpur, Rangpur, Gazipur also celebrated the IWD 2020. These cities collaborated with City Corporation, Municipalities, Department of women Affairs, local cultural team, schools and community people.

Chandpur Paurashava:

Chandpur Paurashava Mayor Nasir Uddin Ahmed attended a rally and joined a discussion program followed by a cultural event organized by Meghna CDC Cluster with support from Chandpur Paurashava, LIUPCP and 63 CDCs.

Cox’s Bazar Paurashava:

In Cox’s Bazar, IWD 2020 programs was arranged at Ukakulia Adarsha Shikha Niketon School in 1. Ward Samity Para of Cox’s Bazar Paurashava. A huge number of women and adolescent girls attended the program. At the function, the CDC women leaders vowed to stop child marriage and domestic violence.

Comilla City Corporation: 

Comilla City Corporation celebrated IWD 2020 at Sangraish Girls High School. Counsellor of Ward 16 Jahangir Hossain Babul chaired the function. A rally was brought out with participation of CDC members, cluster leaders, schoolteachers, students, local people and officials. An essay competition was also arranged at 7 schools and prizes were distributed among the winners. Gomoti CDC Cluster organized a cultural event. The program was organized to sensitize people on gender equality.

Gopalganj Paurashava:

Rally, cultural programs and discussion sessions were arranged jointly by CDC, Town Federation and Gopalganj Paurashava marking the IWD 2020. The CDC Town Federation Chairperson Mst. Morium Akter chaired the meeting while the Secretary of Gopalganj Paurshava KGM Mahmud was present as special guest. Councilors, LGI officials, local print and electronic media journalists, PG members, CDC office bearers, Cluster representatives, Federation leaders, CF, SENF and Town team members attended the programs.

Khulna City Corporation:

In Khulna City Corporation, LIUPCP brought out a colorful procession and organized a cultural program marking the IWD 2020.

Mymensingh City Corporation: 

Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) organized a series of programs that started with a colorful procession from Mymensingh City Corporation to Town hall. A discussion program followed by a cultural function on women’s rights with participation of male and female councilors of MCC and officials of MCC was also arranged. Md. Ekramul Haque Titu, Mayor, Mymensingh City Corporation, was present ath the function as the Chief Guest chaired by Lutfun Nahar, Chief Social Welfare & Slum Development Officer, MCC. A short drama was also staged marking the occasion.

Narayanganj City Corporation:

The IWD 2020 was celebrated by NCC with vibrant participation of Community leaders, Panel Mayor, Councilors and Member Secretary of LIUPCP. A huge number of participants spontaneously attended a procession. After the rally, a short discussion was held emphasizing on the rights of women.

Noakhali Paurashava: 

Noakhali Paurashava celebrated the IWD 2020 with a series of programs that included rally, discussion session and cultural program with participation of Honorable Mayor, community leaders and CDC office bearers, PG leaders and members, civil societies, councilors, and people from all walks of life participated in this event. Mayor Md Shahid Ullah Khan said we can help each other to make the changes happen in the society by creating a gender-sensitive town.

Patuakhali Paurashava:

LIUPCP town team participated in a rally which was organized by Deputy Commissioner and District Women Affairs Officer. Besides, a cultural program was also arranged by Gondhoraj CDC Cluster on sexual harassment at the premises of Patuakhali Girls high school. A local cultural group “Dakhina Natto Moncho” performed. Md Rafiqul Islam, Head Teacher of the school, Kajol Borun Das, Councilor of Patuakhaali Pouroshova, Abdullah Al Mamun, Town Manager of LIUPC project, Patuakhali, Bhabani Sankor Singho, member secretary of LIUPCP Patuakhali attended the function and delivered speech marking the day.

Rajshahi City Corporation:

International Women’s Day-2020 was observed in Rajshahi City Corporation, Rajshahi in 11 cluster simultaneously. The Councilors, CCDO office personnel, TM, Output officers, COs, CF, SE&NF and other stakeholders attended the rally and discussion programs.

Rangpur City Corporation: 

The IWD 2020 programs were organized in Rangpur. The Chief Executive Officer Md. Ruhul Amin Miah and Secretary and member secretary of Rangpur City Corporation Md. Rashedul Haque attended in the colorful rally organized by Town Federation and CDC of LIUPCP Rangpur.

Saidpur Paurashava: 

Sylhet City Corporation: