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 On October
15th, 2008 Bangladesh observed the 9th
national girl child day under the auspices of The National
Girl Child Advocacy forum with co-operation from the
ministry of women and children’s affairs. The ministry and
the forum drew up extensive programs for the whole country
to observe the day in a befitting manner. Amid great
enthusiasm, fervor, and cordial atmosphere the day was
observed in all the 64 districts, 207 upazilas and 403
unions of the country. The month-long program culminated
with a colorful grand rally and a seminar in Dhaka. The
rally started from the national public library and ended at
the sishu academy. The seminar was held in Bangladesh Sishu
academy.
The rally
was inaugurated by Ms. Rasheda K. Chaudhury, the Hon’ble
Adviser to the government while Ms Rokeya Sultana,
secretary, Ministry of women and children’s affairs.
 Ms. Mushfeqa Ifqat, acting Chairperson, Shishu Academy and Ms.
Shaoli Suman, Director joined the rally. About
2000 persons participated in the rally among whom were
students from a large number of schools and colleges,
teachers, guardians, heads of various organizations,
responsible people from al walks of life and so on. The most
spectacular aspect of the rally was the paper cap displaying
the motif of the girl child free and conquering the world.
All other participants waved colorful banners, festoons and
placards.
The rally
being over at 10 a.m. a special seminar was held which was
rounded off with prize giving. The seminar was addressed by
Ms. Rokeya Sultana, Secretary, Ministry of Women and
Children’s affairs as Special Guest with Ms. Mushfeqa Iqfat,
acting chairperson, Shishu Academy in the chair. Among the
notable speakers who contributed much valuable ideas and
thoughts to the seminar were Ms. Latifa Akand, Vice
President, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum and Professor,
Dhaka University, Dr. Halima Khatun, a veteran of the
language movement and professor of Dhaka University,
Renowned Cultural Activist Mr. Mustofa Monower, Ms. Shaoli
Suman, Director, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Ms. Shaheen Anam,
Executive Director, Manusher Janno Foundation, Mr. Shafiqul
Islam, Director (Program), Dhaka Ahasania Mission, Dr.
Badiul Alam Majumder, President, National Girl Child
Advocacy Forum and Global Vice-President and Country
Director of The Hunger Project, and Mr. Fafiqul Islam Sarker,
Ex-Chief News Editor, Bangladesh Television. The seminar was
opened with an address of welcome by Ms. Nasima Akhter Joly,
Secretary, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum.
Press
Conference: The ministry of women and children’s
affairs and the national girl child advocacy forum in joint
collaboration with Nari Moitri, Bangladesh Shisu
Adikhar Forum, Unicef, Save the children Sweden/Denmark and
Child Development Forum was called a press conference in
the auditorium of Reporter”s Unity on October 13. The object
was to highlight the importance of the national girl child
day. Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder, President, National Girl
Child Advocacy Forum., worked as a moderator of the
conference.
 Ms.
Wahida Banu, Chairperson, Bangladesh Shihu Adhikar Forum,
Ms. Shahin Akter Doly, Executive Director, Nari Maitree, Mr.
Asgor Ali, Executive Director, Child Development Forum, Ms.
Arifa Sharmin, Representative of Unicef and Mr. Neils
Bentgen, Country Chief, Save The Children
Sweeden-Denmark.were attended the Press conference and
briefing their own programs. The keynote paper was presented
by Ms. Shaoli Sumon, acting chairperson of Shishu Academy,
Proceedings of the conference were conducted by Nasima
Akhter Jolly, Secretary, National Girl Child Advocacy Forum.
As many as 70 representatives from both print and electronic
media were present in the conference.
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Essay
Competition: Another very important feature of the day
was a country-wide essay competition organized jointly by
the Bangladesh Shishu Academy and the National girl child
advocacy forum with assistance from Action Aid Bangladesh.
Two groups from two types of sector that means formal and
non-formal sectors, one comprising students from class three
to six being Group A ;and the other comprising students from
class seven to SSC level being Group B participated in the
competition. The topic for the 1st group was ‘My
sister’ and Group B was ‘Protect the teasing, make sure
punish the teasers and our responsibilities” Of the 468
essays received in Group A, those written by Mr. Al-Amen,
Mr. Is mail Hussein, Mr. Marian Doha, Kadoka Thaïs, and Pisa
From Dies-advantaged Group (Non-formal sector), Ms.
Zannattun Naim Tanha, Al-Iqram Shahag, Miss Nusrat Jahan
Nisat, Rashika Jahan, Atia Islam from Advantaged group
(Formal Sector) were adjudged the best five respectively
while the best five in the second group were written by
Monir Hossain, Ms. Hanif, Johora Akter Shireeti, Noor
Mohammed and Mr. Mamun from Dis-advantaged group and Mr.
Masud Rana, Afia Abida, Mr. Jarina Tasnim, Asha Ahmed Diba
and Nabab Ali from advantaged group respectively. The panel
of judges comprised Dr. Meher-e- Khoda, Prof. Shamsunnahar
and Prof. Niranjan Adhikari. Prizes were given away to
winners of the essay competition after completion of a
seminar on October 15th , 2008.
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Art
Competition: An art competition for 500 children
belonging to three age groups was held in the Bangladesh
Shishu Academy which was jointly organized by the Shishu
Academy and the Girl Child Advocacy Forum with collaboration
from Plan Bangladesh.
The group
wise captions for the drawing were ‘My Home,’ age group 6-8,
‘Our Environment,’ age group 9-12, ‘We shall Overcome,’ age
group 13-16. The first five winning places from Gr. A went
to Sharmin Akhter, Rima Akhter, Sanjida Akhter Anna, Anamika
Akter, Mr. Ali Akbor
 from non formal group, Washi Ahmed,
Zahine Ferdoush Kaspia, Mubashira Rahman Siddique, Anika
Tahsin Barsha and Jannatul Ferdoush mou from formal group.
Gr. B to Pavel, Abu Zahid, Moni Rani, Md.
Riad and Thaihudul Islam from non-formal group, Al-amin
abdun noor, Md. Shihabuddin Rahi, Taswvia Taher, Jannatul
Ferdoush and A.N.M Ferdoush Al Rabbi from formal group and
of Gr. C for non- formal to Md. Tarque Hossain, Md. Delware
Hossain, Md. Abdul Khaleq, Sumaiya Hossain and Shariful
Islam, from formal group to Md, Safayat Hossain, Shaiba Asma,
Tasnia Tartushi, Md. Asiqul Hasan and Mobashir Ahamed
Zisan.
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Debate
Competition: An awareness raising debate competition was
held in the Shishu Academy auditorium `under the joint
auspices of the ministry of women and children’s affairs and
the national girl child advocacy forum with collaboration
from Don Forum. The issue for the debate was ‘Protect and
prevention of Eve-teasing and our responsibilities’. Ms.
Rokeya Sultana, Secretary, ministry of women and children’s
affairs was the chief guest of the debating session and
chaired
 the session with Prof. Latifa Akand, Vice-President,
National girl child advocacy forum and professor of Dhaka
University, Mr.Hassan Ahmed Chaudhury, Chairman, Debate for
Democracy acting as moderator. And Father Benazamin Kasta,
Principal, Notordam College, Dr. Rawsan Jahan, Women
Researcher, Dr. Meher-E-Khoda, Ex Principal, Jaganath
college and University, Nasima Akter Joly, Secretary,
National girl child advocacy forum and Gulshan Ara Choudhury,
Chairperson, Don Forum. attended the session as
commentators. Mr. Bidhan Chandro Pal was in charge of
general management. Participants in the debate were Nusrat
Alam Nabila, Zerine Nasrine Tumpa and Karnat Azad Bhuiyan
from Mohammedpur Preparatory Higher Secondary School and
college, Asiqur Rahman Shuvro, Md. Tufan Ahmed and Shazadul
Islam from Cambrian College. The session culminated with
Crest and Credentials distributed among the successful
debaters.
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Countrywide observance of the day: Like the preceding
years this year also a good many programs were taken up in
many parts of the country by the national girl child
advocacy forum. Animators of the Hunger Project organized at
grassroots level debates and art competition, workshop on
‘Rights of girl children and what we must do’, tree
plantation, mothers’ meeting, courtyard meeting, human
chain, rally, discussion, cultural functions and so on. All
such programs were attended by DCs, UNOs, local UP chairmen
and members and people from all walks of life. Like
preceding years the leading dailies of the country paid
tributes to the day by bringing out special reports and
supplements. Illustrated reports featured in 13 electronic
media, 58 national dailies and 38 local dailies.
The Day
Observed in the Eastern region: The day
was observed in 6 districts,
51 upazilas and 99 unions of the eastern region. A human
chain was formed in the Gouranga bazar area of Kishoreganj
town. Participants of the chain brought out a rally which
paraded the main streets of the town and broke up at the
foreground of the Azimuddin High school.
Then a discussion was held in
the school auditorium with Advocate Nasiruddin Faruki,
President, District Committee of The National Girl Child
Advocacy Forum in the chair. The other distinguished guests
present in the meeting were Parul bala Saha, Officer,
Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Prof. Abdul Gani,
Sultana Razia, Chairperson, Mahila Parishad, Atia Hossain,
Organizing Secretary of the same organization, Samiul Huq
Molla, Lecturer of a local college, Palash pal, Hasina
Haider Chameli, Ehtesamul Huq, Mahmudur Rahman, Sadeq Ahmed
Swapan and others.
The meeting was conducted by
Dipika Das, Member, National Girl Child Advocacy forum.
At Sherpur district
headquarters a discussion was held with Mosiron Nesa, the
District Women,s Affairs Officer as the chief guest.It was
presided over by Asstt. Professor Md. Abu Zafar, President
District Committee of the National Girl Child Advocacy
forum. the special guests were noted educationist Dr.
Sudhamoy Das, Md. Khalilur Rahman, Secretary, Sujan(sherpur)
and Syeda Jannatul Ferdous, Instructor, local youth
development training centre. Ashrafunnahar Ruby, member,
national girl child advocacy forum and ‘Bikashita Nari
Network’. In Tangail a similar meeting was held. It was
attended by Prof. Badal Mahmud, Member-Secretary,
Sujan(Tangail), Prof. Tarun Yusuf, Prof.Kamal Nasir, Prof.
Sahinuddin and others. After the discussion meeting a rally
paraded the streets of the town.Three local dailies namely
Povat, Purbakash and Bhorer Dak published illustrated
reports on the observance of the day.
A rally numbering 1500 was
brought out from the auditorium of the Kendua Public library
under Netrakona. Besides, a seminar was also held with Adv.
Bazlur Rahman Tulip in the chair and Mr. Nazrul Islam, UNO,
as the chief guest and Ms. Masuma Aziz, Upazila Women and
Children’s Affairs Officer. The seminar was jointly
conducted by Mr. Mohiuddin Ahmed and Ms. Azeda Kaniz.
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The Southern Region:
The day was observed in as
m any as 240 places in the southern region. For observing
the day in Jessore a number of programs were jointly
undertaken by the district branch of the national girl child
advocacy forum, Shishu Academy and Ahsania
Mission.Highlights of the programs were rally, seminar, art
competition etc.On Sept. 30 a colorful rally was brought out
and a seminar held.At the head of the rally were Mr. Serajul
Islam, Chairman, Arabpur Union Parishad, Rabeya Akhter Emu,
local women leader and other noted persons. Mr. Mostafizur
Rahman, ADC(Rev), was chief guest at the seminar. Special
guests were `Mr. Fazlul Karim, Organizer Shishu Academy, Md.
Iftekhar Alam, district sports officer and noted woman
leader Ferdousi Begum.The seminar was chaired by Feroza
Bulbul Koli, President , district committee of national girl
child advocacy forum. The address of welcome was delivered
by Dr. Mohidur Rahman, general secretary of the district
committee.Towards the end of the seminar two young girls now
sheltered in the Ahsania Mission narrated the harrowing tale
of their abduction and subsequent rescue. In Boalmari
upazila of Faridpur a seminar was held with Mr. Nazmul Huq,
Convenor, Upazila Sujan Committee in the chair and Mr.
A.T.M. Abdullahel Baqui as the chief guest. The other
participants were Principal Md. Liaquat Hossain Liton, Asstt.
Education Officer Mr. Md. Golam Faruk, Adv. Korban Ali and
Mr.Md. Shahadat Hossain, Headmaster of the local high
school.
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The Northern region:
The day was observed in as many as 257 places of the
northern region. Along the R.K.Road of Kurigram Khalilganj
more than a hundred deprived girl children formed a human
chain. After breaking up of the human chain the girl
children took part in a drawing competition in the premises
of AFAD, a local NGO. The first three places of the
competition went to Arjina Khatun, Halima Akhter Hasi and
Shilpi Akhter respectively.After that a seminar was held
with Ms.Khodeza Begum, Chairperson of the local Nari Unnayan
Sangstha in the chair. Other guests who attended were
Convenor of the Sujan district cimmittee Kh. Khairul Alam,
Nazrul Islam,Reshma Sultana,Mariam Begum,Parveen
Begum,Mostaque Ahmed, Rashida Begum,Ferdousi Begum
Chinu,Sahanara Begum,Ratna Begum,Haider Chaudhuri, Ratna
Ghosh, Tahmina Khatun,Nazia binte Akram,Refaul Islam, Aleya
Begum and many others.
In Rangpur more than three
hundred children in three groups took part in a drawing
competition and a seminar was held in the premises of the
District Shilpakala Academy which was chaired by Ms. Fatema
Yasmin Ira Huq and addressed by A.K.M. Abdur Rouf Manik,
chairman of the local pourasava, Monowara Begum, Regional
Director(Rtd) , Rangpur, Akbar Hossain, Secretary, Sujan,
Dr. Mafizul Islam Mantu, Health Adviser, the local pourasava,
Prof. Alimuddin,Head of the Department of Bangla(Rtd),
Carmichael University College, Mr. Asaduzzaman Afzal,
Organizing Secretary of the Bangladesh Photo-journalists
Association, Rangpur branch and others. The whole program
was conducted by Yusuf Ali Raju, Convenor, Ujjibak Forum and
volunteer trainer Mr. Shamsuzzan Sohag.
A colorful rally was the most
prominent feature of the day being observed in Rajshahi.It
was jointly organized by Haji Akkas Ali Educational
Improvement Foundation and Rajshahi branch of the national
girl children Advocacy Forum. Starting from the office of
the foundation the rally dispersed at the Naodaspara Pilot
Highschool.After the rally a seminar was held with Mr.
Shamim Hossain in the chair and Ms. Anju Ahmed, the local
Woman Commissioner as the chief guest. The special guests
were Messrs. Amanullah, Executive Director of WDC, Hasinur
Rahman,executive director of NIBUSand Manjurul Huq,
Regional(North) Co-ordinator of the Hunger Project.The
addressof welcome was delivered by Mr. Rezaul Karim,HASUAF.A
colorful rally paraded the streets of Shajadpur upazila
of Pabna.
It started from the playground of the Shajadpur govt college
and dispersed after reaching the Shajadpur Girls’ High
School. About five hundred students from different
educational institutions took part in the rally. The day was
also observed with great enthusiasm and fervor in Natore,
Nougaon, Bogra, Gaibandha, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari,
Panchagar, Lalmonirhat, Pabna sadar and many other places.
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South-Eastern Region:
Extensive programs were organized in as many as 140 places
of the region. In Sylhet town the day started with 350
children bringing out a rally from the airport bypass road
of Pathantula. After the rally a mothers’ rally was held in
the foreground of Nalia Primary school. The topic for
discussion in the mothers’ rally was ‘The education of the
girl child: the socio-economic context’. the rally was
attended by 450 people including 120 mothers.
The observance of the day at
Laxmipur was marked by colorful rally and well-attended
seminar. Messrs. Taslimul Islam, Deputy Commissioner,
Laxmipur, Abu Saleh Md. Ferdous Khan, UNO, Sadar, Mr.
Mainuddin Pathan, Principal, Govt. Women’s College and many
other persons attended the seminar.
In the Dwip Govt. college of
Hatiya a seminar was held which was rounded off with a quiz
competition. 260 students participated in the competition.
Besides, nether quiz competition was also held in the Maizdi
bazar school in which 350 students took part. Winners of the
first three places were awarded prizes.
About 240 students from class
iii-v took part in a drawing competition that was organized
in the YWCA auditorium of Comilla. The caption for drawing
was ‘My house in my thought’. There were also rallies and
seminars to mark the day. About a thousand children took
part in the rally while the seminar was attended by not less
than 400 persons. In the Uttarda union of Comilla another
seminar attended by 3400 people discussed ‘The importance of
girl child and her significance’. A debate was also held in
which the issue was ‘The girl child- an asset or a
liability’. In a rally organized in the district
headquarters of Feni more than a thousand people
spontaneously took part. After the rally a drawing
competition was held in the Sahadebpur primary school. The
organizers were the local animators of the THP-B. The first
nine best artists from among the 136 participants were given
prizes.
A drawing competition was also
organized in the Cox’sbazar Shishu Academy. Similar
competitions were also held in Ukhiya and Ramu upazilas of
Cox’sbazar. An essay competition and a seminar were
organized at the Tekpara Govt. primary school The seminar
was chaired by Shamima Akhter, chairperson, girl child
advocacy forum of Cox’sbazar with Champauddin, local poura
commissione and woman leader. The special guests were Umme
Khaleda Khanam, Head teacher, Tekpara govt.primary school,
Dipak Sharma, adviser to ujjibak forum, Mahbubur Rahman,
President of the same forum and local and overseas
correspondents of the daily Ajke.Also present were Roksana
Parveen Shipu, a noted organizer of children’s forums,
Jobeda Khanam, a local teacher, Jahanara Begum and many
others. At Ramu the seminar was presided over by Babita
Barua and the chief guest was Abul Kalam Azad, Upazila Sub-Asstt.
Agriculture Officer. Special guest was Hosne Ara, a local
teacher.
In Khagrachhari animators of
THP-B Pradip Kumar Sarker organized rally, seminar and art
competition on the occasion of the girl child day.
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Dhaka region:
The day was observed in 63 places of the Dhaka region.Of
these Rupganj and Bandar under Narayanganj, Dighi pourasava
under Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narsinghdi and Gazipur deserve
mention.
A seminar followed by Iftar
was organized in the District Shishu Academy by the
Narayanganj district committee of the national girl child
advocacy forum and the local committee of Sujan. Alhajj
Taherunnisa Runu chaired the seminar in which Mr.Sakhawat
Hossain was the chief guest.Special guest was Mr. Rafiqul
Islam Sarker, ex-chief news editor of BTV. It was also
attended by Monowara Begum, Member, Central committee of
AGCAF, Principal Abul Bashar, chairperson of the local Sujan
committee, Dr. G.M.Jabbar Chisty General Secretary of the
same, Jahangir Hossain, Secretary , Nganj district committee
of NGCAF, Monowara Suruj, Director, Shishu Academy and many
other respected persons. Poet Amjad Hossain, adviser to the
local Sujan Committee was the chief guest and special guest
was Alhajj Faizuddin Ahmed Lavlu.
The national girl child day
was observed in the local vagrants’ home at Siddirganj with
participation from the deprived children. It was organized
by the Upazila committee of the NGCAF. The seminar was
attended by Mr. Ehsan-E-Elahi, UNO, Siddirganj. Also present
were Monowara Begum, Member Central Committee of NGCAF,
Taherunnesa Runu, President of tdhe District committee of
the same, Jahangir Hossain, Secretary of the same committee,
Fazlul Huq Moni ,Serajul Islam, Alhaj Hajera Rafiq of
Bikashita Nari Network and many others.
Rallies and seminars were
organized in Sonargaon upazila by Kohinoor Akhter Ruma,
Mizanur Rahman, Salma Akhter and Khasrul Hasan, all
belonging to the upazila committee of the NGCAF.
Prof. Rabeya Akhter and Rehana
Akhter of the Araihazar upazila committee of NGCAF along
with Jyotsna Khatun of Bikashita Nari Network organized
rally, human chain and seminar to observe the day at
Araihazar. Similar programs were also organized at Rupganj
upazila by Habibur Rahman, Ruby Akhter, Lucky, Monir, Helena
Khatun And R.K. Joaddar, all members of the upazila
committee of NGCAF.
Apart from this an art
competition and a workshop titled ‘Rights of the girl child
and our duties’ were organized at Moneswar Primary School of
Zigatola by Proloyshikha Cultural Academy and NGCAF. About
475 children took part in the competition while 120
guardians attended. In the workshop chaired by Mr. A.R.M.
Shahjahan the chief guest was Mr. Rafiqul Islam Sarker,
ex-chief news editor of BTV. The workshop was conducted by
Mr. Khorshed Alam, Founder-President of Proloyshikha
Cultural Academy. Also present were journalists Humayun
Kabir Bulbul,S.R. Sayid, Wahidur Rahman, Runny Akhter,
Nur-e-Alam and many others.
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Youth Ending Hunger:
A rally composing 150 students of BanKishore Primary School
was brought out by the Sardaha union unit of Youth Ending
Hunger under Charghatupazila of Rajshahi district. The rally
was followed by seminar, essay competition and art
competition. First to third prizes in the essay competition
were won by Ismat Ara, Taniya Akhter Happy and Sharmin Nahar
Shikha. The first three places in the art competition went
to Nur Hasib Hridoy, Dola and Romana.Besides, the Carmichael
college unit of Youth Ending Hunger also observed the day
with a number of programs.
Many notable publications were
brought out by the NGCAF to mark the day.These included
leaflets published by ASF, ASD and Nari Moitri, posters by
Manusher Jonno Foundation and an anthology of writings
titled Girl Child-3. Apart from these, paper caps displaying
monograms of the day were made and distributed by THP-B.
Side by side with these
programs organized by the animators of the THP- B many other
organizations of the country also observed the day with
great fanfare and enthusiasm. Among these organizations were
Karitas, Steps Towards Development, Samata, YWCA, Kainoniya,
Nari Moitri, ASD, Action Aid Bangladesh, Moitri Manabik
Unnayan Kendra, Uddipan, Self Salvation Bangladesh,
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association and HEED
Bangladesh. They drew up extensive programs to observe the
day all over the country.
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Nasima Akhter Jolly
Secretary
National Girl Child Advocacy
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