POWER IN PEOPLE

Young Women Raising Their Voices On Public Service Accountability

This is the story of a community named Maria Polly situated in Bagerhat, a southern district of Bangladesh. This Polly is the home of 114 families, most of the people in this community are marginalized such as barber, cobbler, bamboo-cane artisans etc. This Polly situated in the periphery of Bagerhat Municipality and Karapa Union. These excluded people were denied receiving public service since the most the public service institutions had been remained reluctant to bring them under the public service net. As most of the people in this community live under the poverty line and the COVID-19 pandemic intensified their situation particularly in the areas of livelihood and receiving health services. Considering the context, a group of young people named ‘Ronger Mela’-- consisting of twenty-five young women--was raising their voices against the injustices and the exclusion. There was no community clinic at Maria Polly and the nearest public health institute, Sadar Hospital, is 5 kilometer away. The members from Ronger Mela Youth Group received trainings from ActionAid Bangladesh on accountability, gender responsive public services and budget monitoring to make them empowered to claim their rights. Therefore, according to their plan, they designed a signature campaign demanding for setting up a community clinic at their locality and organised quite a few mobilizations demanding their rights. Responding to the demand of the Maria Polly community, the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer assigned a SACMO (Sub assistant community health officer) to visit the community every Saturday from 10am to 1pm to provide free health services. From December 2020, the SACMO is regularly visiting the community and giving health service to 40/50 people every Saturday. Ranger Mela Youth Group do not limit their activity with just one issue. During the seasonal cyclones/floods or during the pandemic, they do humanitarian responses (support to provide aid, raise awareness etc.). They also engage in different activities such as building adolescent health awareness, support marginalized people getting Social Safety Net services such as allowances for old people, widow allowance etc.

Young People Protesting Child And Sexual Abuse

“Once upon a time when I was a child, I came to know about my classmates being groped by a stranger on their way to school. I want to raise awareness on this issue so that other girls do not have to face it as my friends did.” -Says young activist Sadia Rahman Nidhi Sadia Rahman Nidhi along with her friends has formed a platform called ‘Sharothy’ through which they are working for raising awareness on abuse and sexual harassment face by adolescents and young girls at different public and private spaces of their lives. After getting a training from Global Platform Bangladesh (A youth and capacity development hub of ActionAid Bangladesh) on Innovative campaign tools and Virtual Story Telling; Nidhi and her friends felt the urge to design a campaign to address this issue of abuse. Upon considering the timely demand for such campaign because of the rise in child and sexual abuse during the pandemic (according to several studies), Global Platform Bangladesh gave a small fund to ‘Sharothy’ to run the campaign project named ‘Tulbo Awaaz Ekhoni’. Through this campaign, members of SHAROTHI collected 50/60 stories of child abuse through their social media friends and followers. After going through the stories, they made some illustration paintings reflecting some common cases of child and sexual abuse with a massage on how to stop that. They also made a Puthi gaan and prepared a video with a social media influencer focusing on raising awareness. Now these young people are continuing their effort to bring changes and through their eyes we dare to dream for a Bangladesh where no one will be vulnerable to child and sexual abuse.

Women Entrepreneurs Shining Bright With Green Power

Promoting Green Energy through the Enhancement of Just and Sustainable Value Chain, the FGG III (Fair, Green, and Global) project works with women in rural communities to encourage them to adopt renewable energy in sustainable and green alternative livelihood options. Through such interventions, the project is working to develop a fair and comprehensive power and energy policy that would ensure social and environmental justice by transitioning the energy sector value chain’s dependence from fossil fuel to renewable energy. Sukhi Begum, from Modhupara village in the Dhankhali Union of Kalapara, ran a small store with her husband. The income from the store supported their family well. Unexpectedly, in 2023, Sukhi's husband passed away. His death was not only a deep emotional shock to the family but also left Sukhi and her family in financial distress. In East Londa, another village, Soma experienced a similar condition when she lost her husband in 2017, who was a construction worker at the Payra 1320 Thermal Power Plant. Soma was left with the responsibility of taking care of their family's expenses alone. To cope with the newly emerged financial needs, she decided to explore learning resources and learned to sew. She wanted to use her sewing skills to generate income, but a sewing machine was still not affordable for her. Carrying on with strong determination, she saw the light of hope when she started getting support from others. ActionAid Bangladesh and Prantojon provided Soma and Sukhi with solar-powered sewing machines. These machines helped to keep operational cost low and helped Soma to earn money by saving high electricity costs. Sukhi Begum said, "I am supporting my son's education with my income," while Soma added, "My operational costs are lower because my sewing machine uses solar energy, which allows me to provide more for my family." Similarly, Sabita Begum from Lalua Union, whose husband died four years ago, shared, "With my husband, we ran our small store after our farming lands were taken in acquisition for the Payra port. Now, I am the only earning member in the family. I do not have enough resources to expand my business. Moreover, rising electricity costs further increase the store's operational cost." Farida Begum from Debpur village faced a similar fate when her land was acquired for the Ashuganj Power Station Company. After losing their primary source of income, she now runs a small shop near the Ashuganj Power Plant to support her family. She is also facing the challenge of rising electricity costs. The rising cost of electricity poses a significant challenge for small businesses like those of Sabita and Farida Begum. However, ActionAid Bangladesh stepped in with the FGG III project's intervention to sustain these enterprises of the displaced and affected community. Under the FGG III project, Prantojon assisted both Sabita and Farida in installing solar-powered systems in their shops. The solar power system reduces the burden of electricity bills, which helps to balance their operational costs. Both of them are now earning around 1000-1500 BDT per day from their solar-powered shops. These efforts by ActionAid Bangladesh and its partners, Prantojon, IRV (Initiative for Right View), and Songshoptaque, have not only supported women in Kalapara, Rampal, and Matarbari but also showcased sustainable solutions for small enterprise owners through renewable energy. Sabita and Farida are now inspiring other women to start their own businesses. Meanwhile, Soma and Sukhi are teaching other women how to save money by using renewable energy. This is helping the women of Kalapara understand that using renewable energy can protect their lives, animals, and the environment.

A Story Of A Woman Going Against The Wave

I am Farzana Bobi. I drive for ActionAid Bangladesh. I used to live in Tangail, Bangladesh with my family. We are six sisters and two brothers. My father was a driver and had a rent-a-car business. Seeing him, my brothers and elder sisters also took up driving as their profession. When I was in class 10, my mother suddenly got very ill. I had to discontinue my studies as a result, although I didn’t want to. My elder sister got married around the same time and shifted to Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. After some time, she suggested me to move to Dhaka as well and live with her. Since then, I have been living here in Dhaka. After I moved, I was looking for work instead of staying idle at home. At that time, my elder sister suggested that I could also opt for driving. I was unsure at the beginning, but her encouragement gave me confidence. Afterall, she has always been my idol. When I touched the steering wheel for the first time something in me changed, I knew I would enjoy this profession. I have been driving for 16 years now and I am proud of my profession. My journey with ActionAid started in 2007. For the last 15 years it has become a second home for me. The thing I like the most about AAB is how they treat each of their employees with immense respect. Irrespective of designations, everyone greets me here with a smile and never makes me feel disrespected in any way. I have to travel to different places due to my job nature, but I never felt uncomfortable. The management here is considerate of its staff’s wellbeing. I even got the opportunity to complete my study besides working here full time. Although I spent 15 years with the organisation, I feel the same amount of joy every day when I come to the office every morning. I will always cherish my journey with ActionAid.

Sports As A Life Skill Prepare Children For Future

The main objective of the Child Rights Week 2022 celebrations at Lalua-Champapur was to promote child development through sports. Sports is a means of personal development that can serve as a vehicle for the psychological, physical, cognitive, and social development of those who practice it. It reduces stress, improves the quality of sleep, prevents diseases, and has been helpful in the therapy of several chronic diseases. Additionally, it is also the source of growing interest in taking care of oneself and staying healthy. Living in a community that is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, children don’t get that scope, so this program has been planned to enhance existing sports facilities by arranging three physical sports competitions for around 68 girls in Lalua-Champapur of Patuakhali district. Partner LRP organized this event with the support of ActionAid where local people especially the teachers supported tremendously to train these children. After 15 days of practice, they participated in this competition and showed their power and persistence performance. Ha-du-du or Kabaddi which is our national sport that is mostly played by men despite having Bangladesh Women’s Kabaddi team but locally this is rarely practiced by females. Handball is not familiar even though it is played by urban-centered clubs. On the other hand, Swimming is not just a sport, it’s a basic surviving skill that helps children prevent drowning. Swimming is popular in rural communities but not for females. This is an exciting activity among all children regardless the sex if the child knows how to swim. Children in a coastal area, where uncounted water sources are flowing, should know the skills related to swimming.  However, this is the first time, such competitions arranged for girls in this community which are outdoor sports. They might perform in races and skipping which are only limited inside the school boundary. Successful implementation of these events seemed to challenge through, but the support of guardians and community people encouraged girls’ children that can be considered as a change process of behavior. Aysha (14), the Player of the Match of Handball said, “This is the first time I played Handball. I practiced for 11 days and per day I gave 2 hours for this. We used to practice in a school field and teachers at that school allowed us to use that field and even gave us guidance on playing Handball. My team players and I did not know any rules of this sport, but we get inspiration from family, teachers, and ActionAid. I became the best player, and my father is more excited about this. I want more of this kind of opportunity to play.”

Renewable Energy Fest 2025

A just energy transition is crucial to combat the effects of climate change, especially since the power sector contributes 40% of global carbon emissions. The International Energy Agency reported that renewable energy investment reached $771 billion in 2024 but disparities in funding, technology, and capacity-building hindered progress, especially in developing nations. Bangladesh faces energy challenges and relies on fossil fuels for over 97% of its power [BPDB 2023-24], spending $12 billion annually on imports. The demand is projected to reach 27,345 MW by 2041 [CPD 2024], yet the country has vast renewable potential—156GW solar, 150GW wind. Progress is slow due to limited investment, research, and awareness, highlighting the need for a national renewable energy policy. The Renewable Energy Fest 2025 aims to bridge these gaps by encouraging policy dialogue, youth engagement, and exhibiting innovations to drive a just energy transition. This three-day event will bring together policymakers, the private sector, development partners, investors, technical experts, youth and civil society to explore pathways for a just energy transition. Objectives: • Policy Advocacy – Promote just, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition policies. • Innovation & Technology Fair – Exhibit advancements in renewable energy. • Community Engagement – Involve youth, women and CSOs in the energy transition. • Collaboration – Strengthen partnerships to accelerate renewable energy adoption. By uniting diverse stakeholders Renewable Energy Fest 2025 aims to drive policy reform, foster innovation, and build a fair, sustainable energy future for Bangladesh. Timeline of the Event: April 22-24, 2025 Event Structure and Modalities Day 01: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Opening Rally on Energy Finance:  The fest will commence with an opening rally titled “FixTheFinance” / “FundOurFuture,” featuring speeches from stakeholders and performances focused on renewable energy finance. The rally will emphasize youth and women’s participation. Press Brief: A press brief to reflect on the Renewable Energy Fest 2025 among media and journalists Day 02 & 03: Wednesday-Thursday, April 23-24, 2025 Inauguration Plenary Session: Distinguished guests and stakeholders will engage in the formal opening, sharing insights on Bangladesh’s energy landscape and sustainable solutions. Dialogue Sessions Six dialogue sessions will run parallelly, each covering key themes Session 01: Social, Environmental, and Sustainability Concerns of Renewable Energy The dialogue session on ‘Social, Environmental, and Sustainability Concerns of Renewable Energy’ will delve into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Discussions will highlight the environmental footprint of renewable energy technologies, including land use conflicts, resource extraction for solar panels and batteries, and the ecological impacts of wind and hydropower. Experts  will address the social dimensions, such as community displacement, equitable energy access, and workforce transitions in the renewable sector. The session will also focus on sustainability strategies, including lifecycle management, circular economy approaches, and policy frameworks to ensure just, responsible, and long-term adoption of renewable energy in Bangladesh. Session 02: Energy Policy and Governance The dialogue session ‘Energy Policy and Governance in Bangladesh’ will explore key strategies for a sustainable and sovereign energy future. Discussions will focus on the National Energy Transition Policy as a guiding framework, the integration of energy policies with national plans, and the role of cross-border collaboration in optimizing resources. Experts will address dynamic energy planning for both short- and long-term goals, along with regulatory processes to ensure transparency and efficiency. The session will also examine the socio-environmental impacts of energy-related land use and fossil fuel reliance, emphasizing the need for advanced transmission systems and equitable grid access to drive an inclusive and resilient energy landscape in Bangladesh. Session 03: Renewable Energy Financing and investment The dialogue session ‘Renewable Energy Financing and Investment’ will delve into key financial and policy mechanisms to accelerate the renewable energy transition. Discussions will cover investment strategies, financing models, and cost competitiveness to enhance economic viability. Experts will explore subsidy reforms, tax and tariff adjustments, and their role in fostering a more sustainable energy market. Additionally, the session will highlight the importance of global cooperation and trade policies in scaling renewable energy adoption. By addressing these critical factors, the session aims to provide insights into creating a more attractive and sustainable investment landscape for renewable energy development. Session 04: Infrastructure, Innovation and Technology of RE The dialogue session ‘Infrastructure, Innovation, and Technology of Renewable Energy’ will explore cutting-edge advancements and strategic developments in the renewable energy sector. Key discussions will focus on grid integration, energy storage solutions, and decentralized energy models, including community-based approaches. Experts will highlight the role of research, development, and manufacturing in diversifying renewable energy technologies. The session will also address innovation funding, technology transfer, and capacity building as essential drivers for accelerating the energy transition. This session aims to shape a resilient, efficient, and sustainable renewable energy infrastructure by fostering investment in emerging technologies. Session 05: Women in Renewable Energy The dialogue session ‘Women in Renewable Energy’ will focus on empowering women in the renewable energy sector through knowledge exchange, policy analysis, and skill development. Participants will engage in idea-sharing and learning opportunities to foster innovation and inclusivity. The session will also examine existing policies, identifying gaps and opportunities to enhance gender representation in the industry. Additionally, discussions will highlight the importance of capacity building and mentorship in advancing women's leadership and career growth in renewable energy. This session aims to drive a more diverse and inclusive energy transition . Session 06: Youth for Energy and Climate Justice The dialogue session ‘Youth for Energy and Climate Justice’ will serve as an interactive platform for young leaders to drive innovation, policy advocacy, and sustainable energy solutions. Discussions will highlight youth-led initiatives, capacity building, and commitments toward a greener future. The session will bridge global commitments with local actions, empowering young changemakers to influence policy and drive impact. Session on Policy Recommendation The ‘Policy Recommendation’ session will bring together experts from all dialogue sessions to summarize key discussions and insights. This platform will facilitate direct engagement with policymakers, ensuring that critical recommendations on renewable energy financing, governance, innovation, and inclusivity are translated into actionable commitments. The session aims to drive meaningful reforms and strategic advancements in the renewable energy sector by bridging stakeholder perspectives with policy frameworks.

The New Standard

National Mourning Day 2020:

Bangladesh's first President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with 16 of his family members on 15thof August in 1975. His daughters Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived as they were abroad at the time. The day is observed as National Mourning Day in the country to mark the occasion. The nation observed the National Mourning Day on 15thof August 2020, Saturday with paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 45th martyrdom anniversary. Like every year, 15 LRPs arranged different programs for the children to observe National Mourning Day 2020. But this time, it was a bit different due to the pandemic situation. Children participated in different programs remotely. They participated in Drawing competition (On Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman), Essay writing competition (On Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman), Wall Magazine prepare & display, Poem writing competition, Quiz and Discussion on Father of Nation.

International Women’s Day 2026

International Women’s Day 2026 is observed under the global theme “Give to Gain,” highlighting the transformative power of reciprocity, solidarity, and collective support in advancing women’s rights and leadership. The theme underscores that investing in women’s empowerment through recognition, inclusion, and shared responsibility strengthens societies and fosters a more just and interconnected world. In this context, and following the 13th National Parliament Election of Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) plans to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 by centring women’s political participation, representation, and leadership. The celebration will focus on celebrating women who entered politics, understanding the challenges they faced, and capturing the learning from their journeys to inspire future women leaders. Globally and in Bangladesh, women in politics continue to face discrimination, violence, tokenism, and exclusion from decision-making processes. Yet women persist, navigating resistance, developing learning and strategies through experience, and paving the way for other women to follow. International Women’s Day 2026 serves as a critical moment to amplify this collective resilience and determination. No matter how entrenched sexism may be or how discouraging political environments become, women refuse to retreat. Instead, they rise together, claiming their mandate and advocating for the rights and empowerment of all women and girls. Available secondary data from media reports and election analyses suggest that women’s participation as candidates in Bangladesh’s national parliamentary elections has historically remained low, though a gradual increase is visible over time. In the early national elections following independence, the number of female candidates contesting general seats was minimal and not systematically documented. More consistent data become available from the 1990s onwards. During the 5th and 6th National Parliament Elections in the 1990s, the number of female candidates reportedly remained below 40. In the 7th and 8th National Parliament Elections (2001 and 2008), the number showed a modest rise, fluctuating roughly between 40 and 50 candidates. A decline was observed in the 9th National Parliament Election (2014), when fewer than 30 women reportedly contested general seats. The 10th and 11th National Parliament Elections marked a gradual increase again, with approximately 60–70 female candidates in 2018 and close to 90–100 candidates in the subsequent election cycle. For the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, media reports indicate that around 109 women have filed nomination papers, suggesting a potential increase compared to previous elections. However, even with this increase, women are expected to constitute only around 4-5 percent of the total candidates, highlighting the persistent under-representation of women in Bangladesh’s electoral politics despite numerical growth over time. Against this backdrop, AAB will organise an event to celebrate women who have entered politics, document the challenges they faced and the learning gained from their journeys, and translate these experiences into inspiration and guidance for future women leaders. Objectives The objective of the event is to recognise and celebrate women political leaders and activists who have challenged patriarchy and social stigma, while reinforcing the importance of women’s leadership in fostering inclusive, democratic, and accountable governance. It also seeks to highlight the challenges, learning, and leadership journeys of women who participated in the 13th National Parliament Election and to use their shared experiences to inspire and encourage other women and girls to engage in politics in the future, in line with the “Give to Gain” ethos. Program Design The discussion sessions aim to both celebrate women’s participation in electoral politics and critically explore the historical legacy and current state of women’s engagement in political leadership and national policymaking processes. The session will examine the structural, social, and political factors that continue to constrain women’s political empowerment, while also highlighting enabling conditions, strategies, and success stories that have supported women’s political journeys despite persistent gender inequalities. Importantly, the discussions will create a dedicated platform for women candidates to share their lived experiences, challenges, learning, and aspirations, with the objective of inspiring future women leaders and strengthening collective advocacy for inclusive political participation. The event will include the screening of a series of short audio-visual contents that capture the journeys, experiences, and reflections of women engaged in politics and public leadership. Participants: Female MP Nominees of the 13th National Parliament Election, government bodies (MOWCA, policymakers, local government representatives), INGOs, development partners, embassies, civil society organizations (CSOs): Women's rights groups, youth organizations, community leaders; media partners (digital platforms, newspapers, influencers), private sectors and community members.

Youth Voice To Ensure Climate Justice

Climate change is affecting everyone, specially vulnerable communities. Engaging young people’s voice is therefore needed to bring change. To encourage the young people to raise their voice in global platform to ensure international fund and climate justice to fight climate change, Youth Environment and Social Development Society (YESDS) organized ‘Dhaka Climate Talk 2018’ in association with Stamford University Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh, Oxfam and Independent University, Bangladesh. Md. Mohsin, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ranjit Kumar Chakraborty, Project Manager, IBFCR Project, UNDP, MB Akhter, Program Director, Oxfam in Bangladesh and Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh talked in the conference among others.

Young People Raising Voice For Social Harmony

On 5 May 2019, a debate competition titled ‘Debate for Harmony’ has been organized to create social awareness on rights and to increase social harmony, students of different schools of Kushtia took part in the competition. Alo Sechchhasebi Palli Unnayan Sangstha with the support of ActionAid Bangladesh organized the school level debate with the aim to develop skills of the students as well as making them aware about social issues and their rights. The final round took place on 5 May 2019 at Moshan Secondary School at Mirpur in Kushtia where Border Guard Public School and College won the first prize.

World Children Day & Child Rights Week 2021 Observance At Lrp52

ActionAid Bangladesh and its partners are trying to ensure child rights and their development through the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA). Udayankur Seba Sangstha (USS) has been implementing various types of intervention to ensure child rights as one of the partner organizations of ActionAid Bangladesh and one of them is the celebration of the World Children Day & Child Rights Week 2021. Bangladesh government declared 04 October to 10thOctober 2021 as the Child Rights Week - 2021. Along with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), different organizations observe the week with different activities. The theme of the week, decided by the government, was “Invest for Children, Build Prosperous World’’ (Shishur Jonno Biniyog Kori, Somriddho Bishwo Gori)' . Events at the community level: Receptive village-based child protection Committee (VBCPC) chairpersons inaugurated the World Children Day & Child Rights Week 2021 in 2 venues in Shimulbari and Borovita Union Parishad’s hall room. VBCPC members, reflection group members, government school teachers, and local elites were present in the events proactively. Main events on World Children Day & Child Rights Week 2021 are art, quiz competition, and storytelling and sharing meeting with Upazila administration Phulbari, Kurigram. 120 children participated in different competitions in eight child spaces. Selected community people were playing the role of judges of the competitions. Finally, 09 children were rewarded for different events. Children were very happy to receive the rewards from guests. Sharing meeting with Upazila Administration: Md. Golam Rabbani Sarkar , Upazila Chairmen was present as chief guest, and Mr. Sumon Das - Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) was playing the role of the chair. Other government officials were present as special guests who were Upazila Women Affairs Officer, Upazila Secondary Officer, Upazila Social Services Officer, Upazila Youth Development Officer, Upazila Assistant Primary Education Officer, and some print & electronic media persons were present at the events. Borsha , a member of the child forum, presented her keynote which was made on the cause and effect of climate change on children. Mr. Arifur, a member of CJG raised the question to the respective authority, “When the dredging and piling of Dhorola Rivers would start?” Moreover, Sourovi, another member of the child forum said, “Government already allocated the housing facilities among the poor but need emphasis to who are losing their house in river erosion.” Aduri, a member of the child forum said, “Children are mostly affected by climate change but there is no mechanism to protect the children, we are proposing to the respective authority to take some programmatic interventions which are for child health, child protection especially for preventing child marriage.” Prize distribution ceremony: 09 Children were awarded in a different category, and they received the crest from Upazila Chairmen, UNO, and other honorable guests. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Phulbari, Kurigram, and chair of the event said, “I am very happy and a lot of thanks to Borsha for presenting her innovative keynote. She carried out detailed information about the causes of climate change. At the same age as Borsha, I don’t have the same knowledge of climate change.” Some expressions of children: “I am very happy to receive the two crests for the drawing & quiz competition and these are my first awards in my life.” – said Rupanti. “My mother is very happy to receive the crest from UNO and Upazila Chairman. It is very exciting to receive the award on child rights week 2021.” added by Likhon. “This is the first time I am appearing in any competition. As a result, it increased my confidence level to appear in any competition at our school and others.” stated Sweeti.

Workshop With The Journalists In Cox’s Bazar

Since the beginning of the Rohingya crisis, journalists have played a significant role to cover the issues and facts of the crisis. Considering the possible scopes and challenges of covering Gender Based Violence issues more intensively, ActionAid Bangladesh organized a workshop with the journalists in Cox’s Bazar with the support of UNFPA and Canadian High Commission. While Chairing the session, Dr Khalilur Rahman, Member, Executive Board, ActionAid International Bangladesh said, since the journalists in Cox’s Bazar have been playing the key role of presenting the GBV related issues faced by the forcefully displaced Rohingya women in front of the world, therefore more awareness need to be created among them.