To mark the International Women's Day 2009 an Anti-corruption cultural program and solidarity gathering was organized by TIB at the Rabindra Sarobar Mukta Mancha in the capital on 23 March. With the slogan “Wake up people… stand up for women's rights…” the cultural program was joined by people from all strata. In particular, renowned singers of the country, eminent women personalities such as freedom fighters, former advisors to the Caretaker Government, writer, cultural and development activists attended and expressed their solidarity with this initiative.
In his speech, the Executive Director of TIB said, as an organization, communicating voice for a gender sensitive anti-corruption social movement, TIB believes that the anti-corruption movement and women's rights movement must go hand in hand. Corruption is one of the major obstacles for establishing good governance in the country and a threat for women's rights as well.
On the other hand, women empowerment can play a significant role in resisting corruption. It is hardly possible to achieve one without the other. So the firm conviction of International Women's Day is: “(We) won't indulge in corruption, won't accept corruption, won't tolerate corruption, no more violations of women's rights, won't accept, won't tolerate”.
The program commenced at 4:00 pm and continued till 8:00 pm . Those who performed on stage were PanCham Sur , TIB YES group, Awaz Foundation and Adivasi Forum . It is to be noted that the group members of PanCham Sur are mainly acid victims organized under the initiative of Acid Survivors Foundation. Besides, eminent singers Chandana Majumder, Sumi with her band ‘Lalon', and freedom fighters Bipul Bhattachajee, Sharmin Murshid spellbound the audience with their performance.
Eminent women personalities who came on stage to state solidarity were Advocate Sultana Kamal, Rokeya Afzal Rahman, Ayesha Khanum, Selina Hossein, Kanak Champa Chakma, Mili Rahman, Supriyo Chkraborti and Shirin Banu Mitil. The program was live webcast through the technology partner Metronet Bangladesh at www.metro.net.bd
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