SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 - Theme: Education for Girls!

Rallies, art and debate contests

Report by Nasima Akhter Joly        Click here to see new video!

National Girl Child Day on 30^th September, 2006 was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and festivity throughout Bangladesh. For the first time since its inception, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs hosted several programs to highlight the importance of girl children. Our latest information suggests that more than 800 locations in the country held rallies, essay and art competitions, debates, tree planting ceremonies, discussions, parents meetings, and media events. All of these events were organized by our over 80,000 animators and the villagers across 64 districts. We also designed special publications and posters to honor this momentous occasion.

In addition, The National Girls Child Advocacy Forum along with its NGO partners observed the Day at over 500 places with due importance and festivity.

The biggest of these events was the rally held in Dhaka City organized by NGCD Advocacy Forum. A discussion meeting and cultural program preceded this rally. “Education is light. Education is Prosperity. Ensure My Right of Education.” was the rallying cry of this year’s NGCD. The rally which included girls and boys from many educational institutions and representatives of various NGOs, was inaugurated by eminent Bangladeshi novelist Selina Hossain. We began our journey from Shishu Academy at 9.00 AM, and after traversing different important areas of Dhaka City ended it at National Museum.

The discussion meeting was held at the Shisu Academy auditorium. The Honorable State minister Begum Selima Rahman from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs was the chief guest, and the meeting was presided over by the convener of the " Shisu Academy" Professor Jubaida Gulshan Ara. Participants in the discussion included Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr. Halima Khatun, Professor Latifa Akond, M. M. Neazuddin, Director Shishu Academy and Md. Kamaluddin Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Over 2000 people from different sections of the society and more than 60 NGO representatives took part in the rally and the discussion meeting.

In her formal address, Selima Rahman said, “women are deprived from education, health, nutrition, income etc. from the very beginning of their life. They are also deprived of their basic rights as a human being. They must overcome this situation and all discriminations against the girl child should be removed. The objective of celebrating NGCD is to create public awareness about the rights of the girl child and our responsibilities towards them. I think it will inspire the government to work for the girl child with a view to ensuring a better future for them.”

All other speakers also assured the gathering to personally take actions that would raise the standard of life for women in their communities.

 

In addition, we hosted a national essay competition, earlier in September, in which more than 800 participants – both girls and boys wrote on the importance of the issue. Also, an art competition was held on 29 September at the Shilpokola Academy, and 400 girls and boys presented their creative drawings and paintings to be judged by renowned artist Hashem Khan. The topics of the art contest were: for children 6-10 years “ My School”, and children 11-14 “ The dreams of Bangladesh”

A debate competition organized jointly by The National Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Debate for Democracy and Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh was also held. The debate topic was "Is HIV-AIDS, only a health problem." Dr. Wakil Ahmed , Vice Chancellor of National University was chief guest and the event was chaired by Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar. There was a prize distribution ceremony which was attended by 300 of students and parents.