The dawn of International Women’s Day 2026 arrives with a sombre resonance. While the streets of Dhaka are often decorated in shades of purple, the headlines tell a grimmer story.

City Bank PLC is widely utilising it’s City Alo platform, successfully in order to dismantle the structural barriers while fostering digital literacy to ensure women remain central pillars of Bangladesh’s formal economy.

Monisha Abraham, the first woman Managing Director in BAT Bangladesh’s 116-year history, sees leadership as something earned through action and accountability, not titles. Early in her career, senior leaders trusted her with real responsibility, shaping that belief.

This year, EBL is celebrating Women’s Day by transforming financial inclusion into measurable economic impact. In this interview with The Daily Star, Managing Director,

Trust Bank PLC marks this year Women’s Day by prioritising female-led growth. In this interview with the Daily Star, the Managing Director and CEO Ahsan Zamam Chowdhury explains how by bypassing collateral barriers and spousal guarantees, the bank transforms regulatory mandates into a strategic pillar for national economic empowerment and inclusive, long-term prosperity.

There is a certain kind of stillness that settles in once you stop chasing the future and start living it. Even as you navigate the familiar rush—juggling classes, meeting deadlines, and moving through the daily hum of traffic—life has started to feel remarkably quiet.

The first salary is never just a sum of money; the thought itself is amazing and carries a weight that makes one feel different.