Int’l Women’s Day today

The International Women’s Day is being observed today (Sunday) across the country as elsewhere in the globe with a call for building a gender-equal world.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.

After the Socialist Party of America organised a Women’s Day on February 28, 1909 in New York, the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference suggested a Women’s Day be held annually.

After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.

The Ministry for Women and Children Affairs has chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion to create mass awareness to ensure dignified life for womenfolk through establishing their rights.

On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, greeting all women across the world.

In their messages, they termed the day’s theme ‘Projonmo Hok Somotar, Sokol Narir Odhikar’ as time befitting in the current perspective and wished success of all programmes of the day.

In his message, President M Abdul Hamid said the present government is implementing massive programmes, including establishing women rights, spreading education for them and empowering women, to bring gender parity.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and all other private television channels are airing special programmes while newspapers have published supplements highlighting the significance of the day.

 

Dhaka/Mukul