Today is International Women's Day

Published : Sunday, 8 March, 2026 at 10:32 AM Count : 10

Bangladesh observes International Women’s Day today, along with the rest of the world, amid incidents of violence going on against women in the country.

With the theme ‘Rights, justice, action for all women and girls’, the government, non-government and rights organisaitons have taken various programmes to mark the day.

Equality for women in all spheres of life, including politics, administration, home and workplace, is still a far cry as they are still way behind their male counterparts especially in economic and political participation and opportunities.

On the eve of the day, prime minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman in a statement on Saturday said that his government was giving top priority to ensuring women’s safety with taking a strict stance to stop cyber-bullying and online harassment of women.

He stated that the current government was committed to ensure active and effective participation of women in all spheres of life, including education, economy, health and politics.

Referring to the introduction of free education by late BNP chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia for girls up to class twelve for the socio-economic empowerment of women, Tarique said, ‘Continuing that legacy, the current government has introduced the ‘Family Card’ for women’s economic empowerment. The government is committed to ensure the active and effective participation of women at all levels, including education, economy, health and politics.’

A state’s development becomes sustainable only when women’s rights, education, health, security, and participation are ensured, the PM said.

He expressed optimism about building a Bangladesh where men and women will enjoy equal rights.

‘Let equality be our pledge in our existing society, dignity be the reality, and empowerment be the foundation of development. I wish success to all programmes undertaken on the occasion of International Women’s Day,’ he added.

Besides, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is going to award Khaleda Zia the award ‘Best indomitable woman in the advancing democracy’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026.

The ministry announced that the honour would be conferred under the Indomitable Women Award programme for 2026.

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place today at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

Alongside her, five other women will be recognised as Best Indomitable Women across different categories.

Meanwhile, a number of women’s rights groups and non-governmental organisations have chalked out various programmes to mark the day.

International Women’s Day Committee, a platform comprising at least 61 rights organisations, on Saturday held a sit-in programme in front of the Jatiya Sangsad, calling for an end to violence against women, and ensuring participation of women at all levels.

In 1910, the second International Socialist Women’s Conference was held in Copenhagen where the idea of an International Women’s Day was mooted by German socialist Clara Zetkin.

In 1913, International Women’s Day was shifted to March 8 and the day has remained the global day for observing International Women’s Day ever since.

In 1975, during the International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8.

The International Women’s Day 2026 is being celebrated globally with theme ‘Give to Gain’.

FP/A