As part of its ongoing ‘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 in the Baridhara Lake Park, which was followed by a special rickshaw rally.

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

Read more: Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka launches 16-days activism campaign against gender-based violence

Starting from November 25, the campaign will feature several events and activities on eradicating violence against women and girls in society and advancing women's rights, continuing till December 10, the International Human Rights Day.

Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka’s President Tehmina Enayet, Zonta District 25 Lieutenant Governor Dr Zareen Delawar Hussain, Vice President (1) Sonya Panni, Vice President (2) Maliha Chaudhury, former President Dr Simeen M Akhtar, Greater Dhaka Advocacy Chair and former President Nehreen Rahman Tootli, UN Committee member Tangida Sohni Hanfi, Secretary Samia Ahmed, Greater Dhaka Service Committee member Jasmin Faruk and other distinguished club members joined the event, to name a few.

“Today we united for 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." Tehmina Enayet, a renowned entrepreneur, connoisseur of art and Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka’s President, told UNB.

She also thanked the government for establishing many opportunities and ensuring education access for women and children across the nation. “Our honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has implemented many significant policies to eliminate gender-based violence in the society; and we, the Zonitans, are trying to follow in her noble footsteps,” she said.

Read more: Zonta International to launch 16-day activism campaign on ‘Violence Against Women’ from Nov 25

"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 Nehreen Rahman Tootli told UNB.

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

On Sunday, the members will visit the Zonta Club’s flagship partner school Sporsho’s 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.