As a part of celebrating 75 years of CARE Bangladesh, 8 iconic women of Bangladesh were given the ‘Women Icon Award’ in a national event at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka.
CARE Bangladesh honored these women from different sectors, who were the first 8 to break the stereotype and write their names in history.
The award giveaway was preceded by a panel discussion on youth empowerment in climate action.
Ram Das, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh welcomed everyone with his opening remark and said “Youth is not just for tomorrow; youth is for today.
At every level of CARE, youth are actively involved, and we invite talented young people to join CARE in even greater numbers.
Our vision for the next decade centers on youth engagement, focusing on equipping them with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the job market.”
A panel discussion titled ‘Green Growth: Youth Empowerment in Climate Action’ took place in the presence of expert panelists.
Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports chaired the event and said “Youth are invincible heroes of Bangladesh. True impact arises when youth shape policies.
The Bangladesh government is committed to inclusivity through resources and skill development opportunities particularly in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and climate change.”.
A drama performance by Nattoprohor highlighted the story of Bijoyee project participants.
Another panel discussion titled “Women as Changemakers” took place where the awardees shared their experiences and struggles.
Acknowledging the women icons of Bangladesh, the prize-giving ceremony recognized Rani Hamid, the first Woman International Master (WIM) of Chess, Nishat Majumder, first Bangladeshi woman to scale Mount Everest, Salma Khatun, First Women's Cricket Captain of Bangladesh, Tasmin Doza, first woman Director of Flight Operations of Bangladesh Biman, Salma Khatun, first woman Loco Master of Bangladesh (train driver), Sharmin Akter Ratna, Woman Shooter to win gold at South Asian Games, Rabeya Sultana Rabbi, first woman Car Technician of Bangladesh, and Ferdousy Akter, one of the first woman drivers of CARE Bangladesh. Afterwards, the audience interacted with these trailblazing women in a spontaneous question-answer session.
Chief Guest His Excellency Michael Miller, Ambassador, The Delegation of European Union to Bangladesh, said in his speech, “The celebration of women icons in Bangladesh highlights CARE Bangladesh's 75-year journey in advancing development and empowerment. The European Union stands alongside Bangladesh during this pivotal time, emphasizing that empowering women and girls is essential for the country's transformation. Youth empowerment remains a central ambition, as young people in Bangladesh take on significant responsibilities to drive meaningful change in their communities.”
