Runa, a youth activist and community volunteer promoting girls’ rights, took over the Swedish Embassy in Bangladesh for a day on Monday to advocate for girls’ rights, equal opportunities and equal chances for girls. The takeover is a part of the global #GirlsTakeover, a signature activity of Plan International. Every year, the international development organisation rolls on this activity all over the world, including Bangladesh, marking the International Day of Girls on 11 October under its Girls Get Equal campaign calling for increased investment in girls’ power, activism and leadership. This year, Plan International Bangladesh is going to mobilize about 70 takeovers leading roles in politics, governance, diplomacy, business etc all over the country throughout the month of October to promote equality, freedom, and representation for girls and young women. Read: Mayor for a day, memories forever Runa, the Ambassador of the day, who is also a sponsored child of Plan International Bangladesh, expressed her excitement, saying, “In my community, girls often don’t realize that they also have the potential to take high positions, lead and make the change." As she takes over the position today, Runa said, "I feel the confidence in me that I can also develop myself as a leader and with my leadership I can influence girls like me for improved opportunity for girls, especially digital literacy.” Runa is also a member of a youth group where she works with adolescents and youth to promote education for children, and rights of girls and advocates against child marriage.

Adolescent girl ambassadors from across Bangladesh on Sunday asserted their power as change-makers and demanded to live free from gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Raimu Jaman, a college student, came up with her recommendations to resist violence against women after becoming divisional commissioner of Barishal for an hour.

Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNB) - UN human rights experts have applauded the energy and sense of urgency, as well as courage and intellect, that girls and young women have brought to recognizing and confronting many of today’s struggles from climate change and gender equality to poverty and violence.