Dhaka: International Women's Day is being observed today across the country as elsewhere in the world. President and Prime Minister have issued separate messages marking the day.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year's theme, "GIVE TO GAIN," emphasizes the importance of taking concrete actions for women's rights and dignity and celebrates women's economic, political, and social achievements. The theme encourages everyone to contribute to establishing gender equality in society and promotes women's empowerment through cooperation, support, and sharing of resources.
The observance of International Women's Day has its roots in the historical struggle of women workers to secure their rights. In 1857, women workers from textile factories in New York protested against wage discrimination, demanding fixed working hours and opposing inhumane working conditions. This protest faced repression by government forces. On February 28, 1909, the first international women's conference was organized at a women's rally in New York, led by German socialist leader Clara Zetkin. Clara later proposed at the second International Women's Conference in Copenhagen in 1910 that March 8 be observed annually as International Women's Day.
Around 100 women representatives from 17 countries attended the conference and decided to observe the day from 1911 as a day for women's equal rights. Socialists from different countries began to celebrate the day, and from 1914, March 8 was marked in several countries. The United Nations formally recognized March 8 as International Women's Day in 1975, urging countries to observe it. Since then, the day has been celebrated globally with importance, with a specific theme announced each year.
In Bangladesh, various programmes have been organized at the national level under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to observe the day. Different offices and organizations have also undertaken initiatives to mark the occasion.