As part of its ‘16 Days of Activism’ campaign against gender-based violence, Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka conducted a handful of activities on Monday in the capital's Baridhara.

The activities included tree plantation drive in Baridhara Lake Park, followed by a special rickshaw rally.

Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka executives and members joined the activities alongside the local rickshaw-pullers wearing orange strips, as a show of unity against violence directed at women and children.

Today was the fourth day of the 16-day campaign. From November 25, the campaign has been featuring several events and activities on eradicating violence against women and girls in society and advancing women's rights.

The campaign will wrap up after 16 days on December 9, on the eve of International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).

Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka’s President Tehmina Enayet, Vice President Sonya Panni, former President Dr Simeen M Akhtar, Greater Dhaka Advocacy Chair and former President Tootli Rahman, Zonta District 25 Advocacy Chairperson Nilufer Zafarullah, District 25 Lieutenant Governor Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain, Secretary Samia Ahmed and other distinguished club members joined the event, to name a few.

“Today we came here and united for social activities such as tree plantation and rickshaw rally, as part of our "16 Days of Activism" campaign, as we are vowing for women’s rights and advocating for gender equality and raising voices against child marriage and gender-based violence," said Tehmina Enayet, a renowned entrepreneur, art connoisseur and President of Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka’s President.

“Our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has implemented many significant policies to eliminate gender-based violence in the society; and we, the Zontians, are trying to follow her noble footsteps,” Tehmina told UNB.

She also thanked the government for establishing many opportunities and ensuring education access for women and children across the nation.

"Our unity and fight is against all kinds of gender-based violence and oppressions in our society, and we joined together to express awareness among all social classes through these types of activities,” Greater Dhaka Advocacy Chair and former President Tootli Rahman said.

As part of the campaign, several other activities are also in the pipeline. There will be a special radio program on Tuesday which will be joined by Tootli Rahman and Tehmina Enayet, a special procession with placards and banners on Gulshan Avenue, on the front side of Azad Masjid aka Gulshan Central Mosque, next Saturday.

On Sunday, the members will visit the Zonta Club’s flagship partner school Sporsho for its Children's Day event, in which visually-challenged students will have a reading session through the Braille Book sponsored by Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka. The club members will be exchanging views on topics including early child marriage and “Good Touch –Bad Touch” with the students and then participate in a cultural show with the children.

Read more: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16-day activism campaign on child marriage, gender-based violence

On Tuesday, there will be several events including a video screening session with the children of Zonta Club Greater Dhaka members at its President’s residence at the capital’s Baridhara. The session will screen videos on climate change, early child Marriage, and sexual abuse with younger girls in Bangladesh, followed by a candlelight rally by club members.

The series of events will come to an end on December 9, Friday, with a special art workshop by two eminent artists and 10 students of Mayer Doa School, on the theme of early child marriage and the rights of girl children in society at the same venue.

Read more: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16 Days of Activism against gender violence