The media successfully plays its vital role in establishing women rights and gender equity through empowering and flourishing women leadership by creating social awareness against repression and violence.Speakers said this at a views-sharing meeting organised by ‘Pollisree,’ with the local media workers at Rangapur Shahittya Parishad auditorium in the city on Sunday afternoon under its ‘Social Intervention, Women Empowerment and Leadership’ project.Project Coordinator of ‘Pollisree’ Shahnaz Parveen delivered keynote speech narrating the activities being conducted by the NGO in Rangpur region and success achieved in establishing women leadership, empowerment and preventing violence against women.Valiant freedom fighter and Rangpur district unit Secretary of Shushashoner Janno Nagorik Akbar Hossain attended the meeting as the chief guest.Senior journalists Mahbubul Islam, Abu Taleb, Ali Ashraf, Nazrul Mridha, Tauhidul Islam, Bablu Nag, Abedul Hafiz, Siddikur Rahman, Shakil Ahmed, Mohammad Shahin, SM Piyal, Utsa Rahman, Mostafizur Rahman Bablu and Asaduzzaman Afzal, addressed.Rangpur unit Filed Trainer of ‘Pollisree’ Badal Rahman moderated the meeting and a large number of local journalists from print, electronic and online media participated.Shahnaz Parveen said the NGO has formed one district level, six upazila level and 57-union level alliances, six women clubs, 60 adolescents’ groups, raised 63 entrepreneurs and prevented 119- child marriage during the past one year period till June 1 last.Besides, ‘Pollisree’ has also arranged 33-dowry free marriage, prevented 439 incidents of domestic violence, resisted 144-illegal divorce, extended legal aid to 48-violence and repression victims, prevented 228 incidents of sexual harassment, rescued one abducted baby, provided assistance to three severely repressed women and arranged treatment for one acid attack survivor during the period.She highly lauded role the country’s mass media in empowering women through their continuous efforts in eradicating gender discrimination, repression and violence against women for flourishing women leadership at all levels. The chief guest stressed for concerted efforts of all stakeholders including the journalists for brining a substantial change to the prevailing social mindset in ensuring honour, dignity and equal rights of the womenfolk. He asked the media workers for publishing more reports and features to create awareness for launching social movement involving all citizens to establish gender equity and
equal women rights at all spheres of social life to attain sustainable national uplift. -BSS, Rangpur
