Oxfam Bangladesh and WaterAid Bangladesh have jointly launched a leadership development program called ‘Anirban – Rise & Lead’, aiming to facilitate women leadership in middle and senior level. The inaugural event was held at a hotel in the capital on Saturday. The initiative will empower mid-career women professionals and help them re-enter the workforce and take on leadership roles after career breaks. Humaira Azam, Managing Director of LankaBangla Finance, said that "Anirban – Rise & Lead is a remarkable initiative. Success is not just about academic skills – it requires interpersonal skills, mental training and strategies to utilize extra time. “If you have knowledge, you will succeed, but you also need the confidence to speak strongly, present yourself fluently, and the ability to face challenges." Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam Bangladesh said that Despite the progress, many women face invisible barriers that hinder their career growth.  “It is time to create a workplace environment where diverse leadership is recognised and equal opportunities are ensured for all.” Nusrat Anwar, Project Coordinator of WaterAid Bangladesh’s Women’s Returnship Program, and Bidwara Tahmin Khan, Head of Economic Inclusion and Justice at Oxfam Bangladesh, presented a keynote speech at the event, highlighting how this initiative will help women overcome the challenges of career transitions and pave the way for leadership. This was followed by a panel discussion titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Women’s Leadership in the Modern Workplace’. It was moderated by Leadership Coach and Organisational Development Consultant, ChangeMantras. Robust laws, interventions key to protect informal sector workers: Oxfam The discussion was attended by Kavita Bose, Country Director, Plan International, Uma Chatterjee, Leadership Coach and OD Consultant, ChangeMantras, Md. Rubaiyat Sarwar, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Innovation Consulting, Shaheen Anam, Executive Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Hasane Ara Begum, Asian Development Bank and Maherin Ahmed, Communications Manager, CIMMYT. The discussion session discussed the existing gender inequality in the workplace and possible avenues for institutional change. The event concluded with a ‘LabTalk and Career Fair’, which provided women professionals with an opportunity to network directly with employers from various industries. The event opens up new opportunities for professional women by connecting them with organizations committed to ensuring the inclusion of women in leadership roles.

The “Stakeholder Consultation on Local Government Reform” was held on Thursday at the National Institute of Local Government (NILG). The event was jointly organised by WaterAid Bangladesh and NILG, with support from partner organisations and networks, according to a press release. It provided a platform for over 60 organisations, including policymakers, academics, development partners, and civil society representatives, to share insights and propose actionable solutions for strengthening local governance in Bangladesh. Professor Tofail Ahmed, chairman of the Local Government Reform Commission (LGRC) was the chief guest at the event. The Director of NILG chaired the event. Members of the Local Government Reform Commission were apresent at the time, among others. During the consultation, Prof Tofail said, “Reform is a continuous process. The suggestions and recommendations from today’s discussion will lay a strong foundation for future reforms under the next elected government. Involving young generations in this process is crucial, as they are the future leaders and policymakers.” He assured that the recommendations would be considered in the finalisation of the reform commission’s report. Member of the Local Government Reform Commission and human rights activist Ilira Dewan highlighted the challenges faced by local government institutions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to the absence of elections, calling for reforms to uphold the democratic integrity of LGIs. Another member, Dr Ferdous Arfina Osman bstressed the need to reduce interference from lawmakers to allow LGIs to function independently. Commission member and Nari Uddug Kendra Executive Director Mashuda Khatun Shefali advocated for replacing the female quota system with provisions for women’s direct election to leadership roles, enabling them to represent communities more effectively. Representatives from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, SIDA, JICA, and NILG joined the event as special guests. Irene Hofstetter, Nexus Programme Manager at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, highlighted Swiss-Bangladesh collaboration in empowering local governance, stating, “Achieving national development goals is impossible without strengthening local government institutions.” The event concluded with a strong call for collective action to reform local governance, ensuring autonomy, inclusivity, and enhanced service delivery. WaterAid Bangladesh Programme and Policy Advocacy Director Partha Hefaz Shaikh expressed gratitude to all participants, emphasising the importance of the discussions in shaping the policy agenda for the Local Government Reform Commission.

WaterAid with support of Who Gives A Crap, a recognized toilet paper brand in Australia, has launched a film on the story of a sanitation worker aimed at showcasing health hazards and challenges faced by women waste workers in day to day lives. Kohinoor, film a fictional character with lead protagonist by Zakia Bari Mamo reveals the difficulties and sheer will power to overcome barriers for reaching her dreams. Read:‘Turongomi’ to join world’s largest dance parades in Korea Filmed in Mautail Landfills, it shares experiences through compelling cinematography on the lack of facilities for marginalized communities like sanitation and waste workers. The purpose of the film is to raise mass awareness for citizens of Bangladesh and create social awareness towards respecting the profession of waste and sanitation workers, said a press release on Thursday . Mamo as ‘Kohinoor’ depicts the story of a waste worker who is a single mother, faces upheavals in life while trying to make a better future for her daughter. The film has been directed by Kamrul Hasan and ideated by WaterAid team. The 40-minute feature film has already attracted attention in social media for Mamo’s acting and the key messages the film is delivering to all. Read:Azmeer Hossain's 'The Beckoning Horizon' goes on at Edge Gallery The film focused on different pertinent issues related to the life of a woman in most vulnerable set up and social taboos that need collective action. Anyone can watch the film by visiting the WaterAid Bangladesh YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWu_tc4l6NU