State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP along with dignitaries from various sectors made a commitment to uphold girls rights in this International Day of Girl Child (IDG) 2022.

In an event organized by Save the Children at Hotel Amari on Monday, the dignitaries showed the ultimate support to empower girls more and create more opportunities for them to build an equal future.

The theme for this year’s IDG is “Our time is now—our rights, our future”. The day is marked worldwide including in Bangladesh to facilitate a platform between the girls and duty bearers to understand and act on the demand and rights of the girl child.

Through the event this year, Save the Children also intended to leverage the 10th anniversary of IDG by redefining the conventional notion of ‘Girl Talk’ and shift the societal perception towards girls’ agency and leadership.

In this regard, the event was gathered by the adolescent champions as well as representatives from different categories of duty bearers to understand girls’ perspective and ask and have open, face-to-face conversation, interactive sessions and agreed commitments to uphold rights of the girls.

The ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “To build a smart Bangladesh, we have to work together with our boys and girls. Along with the government, families, educational institutions also have responsibility. I have four takeaways from today's event that I will definitely put to work. The realizations are to create educational opportunities for girls, ensure health care, ensure safety and ensure full dignity of girl child.”

He assured that the "School of Future" established in various parliamentary constituencies which the Prime Minister will soon inaugurate, the ICT department will form a children's working group with the help of Save the Children in 300 such schools.

A drama by child advocates followed by a presentation on some key findings from adolescent consultations in focus groups were also shared in the event.

Javed Patel, Deputy High Commissioner of British High Commission in Dhaka, Maria Stridsmen, Counselor/Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden, Kristine Blokhus, Country Representative of UNFPA in Bangladesh, Shamima Akhter, Head of Corporate Affairs of Unilever Bangladesh, Dr. Tania Haque, Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka; and the Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh- Onno van Manen joined the event.