By Atikur Rahman Atik, from Rajshahi

An advocacy meeting titled ‘The Rights of Urban Marginalized Women’ was held yesterday to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Bohrampur Railway Slum under Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi on International Women’s Day.

The event was organized by Youth Action for Social Change (YASC), a youth-based development research organization in Rajshahi, collaborating with Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) and Barendra Youth Forum, a broad youth coalition in the Barendra region. Md. Atikur Rahman Atik, General Secretary of YASC conducted the meeting and it was presided over by Md. Shamiul Alim Shaon, President of YASC.

During the meeting, participating urban marginalized women were informed about various rights concerning education, healthcare, economic independence, legal protection, social security, political rights, equality, and women’s empowerment. The urban poor women were also informed about the available government services including: Maternal healthcare, free delivery services at government hospitals and community clinics, maternity allowance, and nutritional support for pregnant and lactating mothers, free contraceptives (pills, injections, condoms, IUDs), pregnancy and abortion-related consultations and medical services, free immunization programs, cancer screening (especially for breast and cervical cancer), and free medicines at designated government hospitals.

Along with these services they participants were also informed about maternity allowance, widow and abandoned women’s allowance, special loan facilities for women entrepreneurs (e.g., low-interest loans for small and medium enterprises), free skill development training (such as tailoring, computer training, and agricultural training), various scholarships and incentives for women’s education, free legal aid for preventing violence against women (legal aid offices), women’s protection cells in police and administration (helpline services), Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal for fast-tracking cases, protection under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. Besides, they were also informed about national helpline for violence against women (109), women’s help desks at police stations, safe homes, and rehabilitation centers for abused and homeless women etc.

The participants were informed about where to access these services, what to do if services are denied, how to file complaints, and the importance of being aware of their rights. Many of the women present stated that they were unaware of most of these services. Tasmina (30), a participant, shared that even when she tries to access services, she struggles to reach the responsible officials.

During the discussion, women also highlighted various challenges they face, such as lack of access to clean water, sanitation, drainage, electricity, education, healthcare, housing, and security.

Several notable individuals took part in the discussion, including Ruber Hossain Mintu, President of Swapnochari Samaj Unnayan Sangstha; Shaikh Tasnim Jamal, President of Barendra Youth Forum; Tahura Khatun Lili, women’s rights activist; Monika Marandi, Organizing Secretary of the Indigenous Students’ Council; and Hasibul Hasnat Rizvi, Advisor of Vibrant Visionaries Network, among others.