Women, Poverty and Human Rights: A Two Days Learning Programme

Emi apa conducting a session

A two days’ workshop on “Women, Poverty and Human Rights: A Two Days Learning Programme” was held at YWCA organized by SAFA for ESCR and PWESCR. This workshop started in the morning on 2^nd April and ended in the evening of 3^rd April with the certificate giving ceremony and sharing of experiences of participants. Participants came from a much diversified areas and from many remote places of Bangladesh- Khulna, Barisal, Jessore, Pabna, Kishorganj, Madaripur, Rangamati and many others. There was participant from different local and international NGOs like BRAC, RUN, Mati, CMMS, CHRS, Naripokkho, Nagorik Uddoge, BMKS, AFAD, Sharoney, UBINIG and from many other NGOs, there were university students as well as women chairman from some Upazillas of Bangladesh. This two days’ workshop was facilitated by Afsana Chowdhury Emi from Center for Human Rights Studies, Ferdous Rumi from Naripokkho and Faisal Bin Majid from BNPS. Kripa Basnyat from PWESCR was there all the time during the two days’ workshop and worked with the facilitators in conducting session. I was there as an interpreter from CHRS.

Participants in ice breaking session

The two days’ workshop started with an ice breaking session to help the participants to know each other well and bring them into the purpose of the event. The ice breaking session was conducted by Emi apa. Then she presented the ground rules of the training session and every participant agreed with the rules and proceeded with the workshop activities. After that Faisal vai started the session of “Understanding Gender”. With stories and participatory activities he made the session so lively. Faisal vai also lead the session on “Sex and Gender”, “Understanding Poverty and Feminization of Poverty”. In the last session participants were divided into four groups and they come up with real story of four marginalized women of Bangladesh. Later the groups were asked to audit the spaces and resources that could be used by all those marginalized women if they had the access to and where they could go for help and service to improve their positions. Following the group work the first day come to an end.

Interpreting the group works

On the earlier of the second day there was a very short introduction on dignity, presentation “Introduction to Human Rights”, “Relation between CPR and ESCR” and “Understanding Equality” by Emi. Following this session, Rumee apa conducted the next session of “Understanding Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. She also gave presentation on Need Based and Right Based Approach. After the lunch break Rumee apa conducted the session on “How to develop a framework of rights for us”. To enhance the capability of women we need to ensure the framework of 3AQ- Accessibility, Availability, Adequacy and Quality. Following Rumee apa’s session, Emi apa conducted the session on “Understanding the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights”. Finally, this workshop come at end with the last session of the workshop on state obligation by Emi apa.

Faisal vai in a session

In the closing and certificate giving session Priti Darooka from PWESCR, Selina Akhter from ASK, Tamanna Khan from Naripokkho and Sayida Akhter from Nagrantha Probartona was present and delivered their greetings to the participants.

Group Photo with all participants and organizers

DUMUNA: Platform for Learning and Practicing Model UN Formate Debate

It was a great opportunity for me to be a part of Dhaka University Model United Nations Association (DUMUNA). I am really fortune being the founder member of this organization in 2011 and worked till December 2013. It is a great honor to be the president of this organization and work with some really fantastic people. DUMUNA is such a platform where young people really can learn the art of diplomacy and negotiation in touch with real time diplomats. It’s a platform for learning leadership qualities, improving communication skills, increasing own network, learning Model UN Debate formate and having a lots of fun.

with honorable chair, shehreen apu and friends from IIMU at MOIC Malaysia

 DUMUNA is the first and still only international level youth volunteer organization in University of Dhaka. It started journey in 2010 and its main motto is to spread the concept of Model UN throughout the country by arranging different workshops and conferences. From the very beginning of DUMUNA, it is arranging model UN workshops continuously each year in national level and weekly workshops for its members’. Diplomats, ambassadors working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Teachers from different Universities, and Officials from United Nations Bangladesh are frequently join in these workshops as mentors. They share their experiences among the participants in the workshops. Apart from this DUMUNA sends its team to different international MUN conferences every year.

with Mr. Kazi Ali Reza, Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, Mamun vai and Probal da

It was a great opportunity  for me to participate Model OIC Conference in Malaysia in August 2013. It would not be possible if I were not attached with DUMUNA. I and Shehreen Ataur Khan, one of DUMUNA honorary member and one of my closest senior from the campus, joined this conference on behalf of University of Dhaka as well as DUMUNA. In the conference we had succed to pass a resolution on ensuring women rights and empowering them as sponsor country with playing the leading role. It was also an honor for me to be the Secretary General of DUNMUN Session II, held in 2013. This DUNMUN conference got a huge response from all around the country and 421 students from more than 24 universities of Bangladesh joined. After DUNMUN 2013, participants from universities like Rajshahi University, Khulna University, Chittagong University and some more showed their interest in forming MUN Clubs in their universities too.

in a program with UN Youth Champion with Erfan vai, Monique Coleman, Mr. Kazi Ali Reza and guests

I would like to thank Sheikh Mohd. Erfan Uddin from the bottom of my heart for all his hard works from establishing this wonderful organization at Dhaka University. Without you it would not be possible to form organization like DUMUNA. When I first meet him, he was about to be post graduate from Dept. of International Relations and I was a first year student from his department. The notion of Model UN derived from United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB). Erfan vai joined UNYSAB at the end of his college life and started practicing Model UN. He participated in different national and international Model UN conferences across the world. During his participations in International MUN conferences he noticed that each well-known university in the world has a MUN club. Still the Oxford of East, University of Dhaka is still missing this. I think it might be his inspiration for creating this organization. Erfan vai was first ever to lead a delegation from Bangladesh to the USA and participated in National Model UN in New York from DUMUNA.

Mamun vai and Probal da with Kiyo Akasaka at GMUN 2011

I must mention another name here in reference, Mohammad Mamun Mia. What should I say or tell about him would be very few. He is my mentor, teacher, brother, friend and what not. If he remains beside me, whatever situation I am facing, I feel a great environment and remain very confident and calm. I can remember, the very first day when I met him. AAhhh!!!! Will share on some other posts. Here I don’t want to write about him much, I will try to write a whole post on him someday. Anyways Mamun is also a founder member of this organization and was president of DUMUNA session 2012-13. In 2011, he participated the most prestigious conference Global Model UN organized by United Nations in Incheon, Republic of Korea. There he and Shiddharto Goswami, (probal da) General Secretary of DUMUNA session 2012-13, meet with Mr. Kiyotaka Akasaka, the then Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information of United Nations.

With all the dedication and hard works member of DUMUNA trying to create the best output for the betterment of the society. Besides working for promoting the notion of Model UN, this organization is always try to do the best in representing the country in different countries of the world and volunteering for the social development. I would say that joining organization like DUMUNA would not be a wrong choice for any student of Dhaka University. Join in and entertain your life with it. I hope you must learn many things from here and always remember the slogan of DUMUNA “United we work, United we achieve”.

delivering a token of thanks to Ambassador Jamil Majid

receiving Honorable Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka  Professor Dr. AAMS Arefin Siddique, Chief guest of inaugural ceremony of DUNMUN 2013

receiving crest from Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin, Treasurer of University of Dhaka, Chief guest of Closing Ceremony of DUNMUN 2013. Professor Dalem Chandra Barman, Professor Ainun Nishat were also present there.

with DUMUNA team member at CBIT Model UN in India

Leo Youth Camp 2014: Innovation

From February 13 to 16, 2014 I was attending Leo Youth Camp Innovation 2014. This youth camp of Leo District Council, Lions Clubs International 315 A1, held at Sheikh Hasina National Youth Centre, was a great opportunity for the young people to learn about leadership. This camp was full of opportunities for the youths to gather experience from staying closely with the Lions of this district. During the camp participants had participated in different competitions and the bests were awarded. The most attractive competition was finding out ‘Shoprotive’, the most intelligent young boy and ‘Bidhushi’, the most intelligent young girl. Both boys and girls participating in the camp had to participate in different competitive rounds and perform with their expertise to become ‘Shoprotive’ and ‘Bidhushi’. Participants also had to creative activities like preparing wall magazine of clubs and also participating in parliamentary debates, making projection on club activities, instant performance. Lions from the district came and shared their experience of Leoism and Lionism with the leo participants. Their speeches motivated the young Leos to be more social and work for the country. This was really an inspirational session for the young leo activists.

Leos are taking Leo Oath

Leos participating in parade

Those who are not familiar with Leo clubs must ask what this is and how it evolved in Bangladesh and what are the activities of Leos? Leo in full form is “Leadership. Experience. Opportunity”. According to the information from Lions Club International, more than 160,000 young people in 140 countries are proud to volunteer to serve their local communities and to call themselves Leos. Youth who join Alpha clubs (ages 12-18) have fun, make new friends and experience the rewards of serving others. Omega clubs (ages 18-30) help members further develop their leadership skills and prepare them for a lifetime of community involvement and contribution to society. Late Ln. Alhaj Abdul Jabbar Khan is the founder of Leoism in Bangladesh. He was a freedom fighter, first film maker and also a PDG. He organized leoism in Bangladesh in 1972. Leo club of Dhaka Kamalapur is the first leo club in Bangladesh. Throughout the world the young Leos are working to Making the World a Better Place for Children. They are collecting food and clothes for local street children, repairing playgrounds, implementing after-school tutoring programs, visiting children in hospitals, raising funds for immunization programs and many more activities. Besides their activities Leo clubs bring hope and laughter to needy children, especially on December 5, International Leo Day. In Bangladesh Leos also volunteering in different welfare activities of Lions Clubs Bangladesh. Most recently the “Ham-Rubela” campaign was volunteered by a huge number of Leos all over the country. Bangladesh Lions Federation (BLF) has ENT Clinic in BLF Hospital, Mother & Child Care Centre, BLF Education Fund, Physiotherapy Clinic, and Dental Clinic where Leos are volunteering in activities. Leoism is a very special platform for the young people to work for the community and under privileged people in the country.

Performing in a event of the Leo Youth Camp

Taking crest from the guests

Reading biography of a sports person

One participant of Dress As You Like

With Lion District Governor, Leo District President and Members of my club Leo Club of Dhaka Sugandha