The ‘Sankkhubdha Sultana Sammilani’ was organized in Noakhali protesting ongoing violence against women. Women organized the mass rally, karate performances and Cricket Match, presenting songs against violence, solidarity speech and moshal michhil. The speakers demanded ensuring safe movement of women in and out of the workplace, to put an end to anti-woman speeches in all kinds of meetings and conventional religious gatherings, and to start judicial investigations in cases of sexual harassment end all forms of violence against women.
As part of the International campaign -16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, in collaboration with ActionAid Bangladesh and United National Population Fund, right-based organization Participatory Research Action Network- PRAN, Gandhi Ashram Trust and Bandhan jointly organized this event on the eve of Rokeya Day.
The speakers on this Sammilani said, the dream realm Begum Rokeya portraited in her ‘Sultana’s Dream’, even this long one and a half centuries afterward, we see that dream society for women is faraway. Keeping house captivated grounding on the religious excuse, sexual assault to break and stifle the advancement of women, incidents of harassment and violence have become the regular scenario of our everyday life. In order to achieve the overall freedom and attain own rights, women needed to be more educated as well as getting united and active against violence and oppression instead of practicing the culture of remaining silent out of fear of social stigma.
Md. Alamgir Hossain, Police Super of Noakhali District, the fastest lady of Bangladesh Nazmun Nahar Beauty, Tahiya Akhter Priya- middle distance run National Champion addressed their solidarity with this mass gathering. Women’s right activist Laila Parvin, Nur Nahar Rini, Dipti Nath, local government representative Rowshon Akter Lucky and Raha Naba Kumar- Director of Gandhi Ashram Trust also delivered their solidarity speech.
The event ended with a moshal michhil of women marched and whistled around the city’s main thoroughfare.
