Couples Join 'Fair' in Dinajpur
Share ideas on removing gender discrimination
Participants at the 'gender mela' on the premises of Betora Dimukhi High School at Bhandara village in Biral upazila of Dinajpur district take oath for prevention of crime against women yesterday. Photo: STAR
Hundreds of couples yesterday gathered at a 'gender mela' on the premises of Betora Dimuki High School at Bhandara village in Biral upazila of Dinajpur district to share their experience on minimising gender discrimination in the rural society. Society for Udyog, a non-governmental organisation of Dinajpur, arranged the day-long fair in cooperation with Manusher Jonno Foundation. Women of rural area are now recounting their experiences regarding various developmental initiatives introduced across the country for the uplift of women and the society in general, speakers said at a discussion on the occasion. The NGOs of the country are working on the people's right to education, right to health and right to food with special emphasis on educating the girls of rural areas, they said, adding that such initiatives are helping to strengthen the rural economy. "The women have gathered here to discuss the changes that various initiatives have brought about in their lives," Md Abdur Rahman, acting chairman of Bhandara union parishad, said. "Crime against women sees a gradual decline while NGOs are working to make people aware about the harmful effects of female foeticide. Still the rate is concerning," Shahin Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said in her speech as a special guest at the meeting. After the discussion, five newly married couple were honoured for getting married without dowry. It followed an oath to prevent people from committing any crime against women. Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Md Jamal Uddin Ahmed spoke as chief guest at the meeting presided over by Umme Nehar, executive director of Society for Udyog. Md Golam Rabbani, upazila nirbahi officer of Biral, Bonosree Mitra Niyogi, programme coordinator of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Laila Arzuman Banu, vice chairman of Biral upazila, AKM Mohsinuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Biral, and Rita Mondal, upazila women affairs officer, spoke among others. Later 13 stalls, meant for providing information to people, were opened. The daylong programme concluded with a colourful culture programme.
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