Gallery Cosmos, the artistic wing of Cosmos Foundation, is hosting a unique, interactive segment titled “Art Therapy through Printmaking” at “Inspire Her Wellness” by Dhaka Flow, a pioneering yoga and wellness festival. The festival — to be held on March 8-9 at the Baridhara Society Lakeside Park in Dhaka — will commemorate International Women's Day 2024, while “Art Therapy through Printmaking” will celebrate the power of creative expression in healing through art. Eminent and pioneering printmaking artist Professor Rokeya Sultana will conduct a live printmaking session and workshop at the Creative Playground for the attendees. Besides, young artist Surovi Akter will be drawing caricatures live at the event. ‘The Black Story’ exhibition by Gallery Cosmos launched virtually The workshop and printmaking session will be held on both days - Friday, March 8 at 11:30 am and Saturday, March 9 at 11:00 am. In addition, the Gallery Cosmos Pavilion will be featuring 20 promising young visual artists and printmakers, showcasing a total of 35 artworks as part of its ongoing commitment to promote the country’s emerging talent by highlighting the work of these talented female artists. With a large number of visitors expected to join and explore the art fair, Gallery Cosmos aims to provide a platform for these young Bangladeshi artists to gain recognition and appreciation on a global scale. The festival-goers can purchase their artwork from the gallery at the festival. Nasrin Jahan Onika's maiden solo exhibition ‘Home’ begins at AFD Art therapy has long been recognised for its capacity to unlock emotional expression and foster healing. It serves as a non-verbal communication channel that allows individuals to explore their deepest thoughts and feelings. Women have been pivotal in the art world, yet their representation has not always been proportional to their talent. This event is dedicated to promoting women artists who do more than just fill a gallery; they shatter glass ceilings and pave the way for the next generation of female creators. They challenge societal norms, question the status quo, and, most importantly, offer a rich narrative with diverse female perspectives. The Black Story webinar sheds spotlight on ‘Dismantling Anti-Blackness in South Asia and the Diaspora’ Women’s entrepreneurship in the art world is a burgeoning force. Female artists are not just creators but innovators and business leaders. One of these pioneering women entrepreneurs is Nahar Khan, a writer, curator, and patron of the arts who is currently serving as the Executive Director at the Gallery Cosmos and the Cosmos Foundation. In addition, Nahar Khan also currently serves as Director at United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and Vice President of the Cosmos Group. An enthusiast of Arts and Culture who is keen on working towards inclusive curatorial practices and curatorial activism to challenge assumptions, hegemony, and heterocentrism while sparking meaningful discourse around social, racial, and political issues, Nahar Khan is especially devoted to the cultural and historical exchanges between communities. ‘Amar Dekha Noya Chin’: Bangabandhu’s formative journey in a travelogue-style graphic novel Gallery Cosmos garnered widespread recognition from the international creative community for many of its artistic endeavours. Among these endeavours was the series of intellectual and artistic interventions for “The Black Story” project, an interactive virtual exhibition conceived and curated by Nahar Khan during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also works with differently-abled children in the art space and holds several art events and workshops for them, alongside the regular artistic ventures of the gallery in order to foster the country’s glorious art and culture. Kicking off this Friday at 10 am with an opening ceremony by Dhaka Flow co-founder and esteemed yogini, Shazia Omar, the “Inspire Her Wellness” festival is scheduled to host a wide range of workshops and classes, originating and concluding at Baridhara Society Lake Park on March 8-9. UNB is the media partner of the festival. Yoga a gift of India to world: Pranay Verma

Demonstrations, conferences and artistic events around the world Wednesday marked International Women's Day, an annual observance established to recognize women and to demand equality for half of the planet's population. While activists in some parts of the planet noted advances, repression in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran — and the large numbers of women and girls who experience sexual assaults and domestic violence worldwide — highlighted the ongoing struggle to secure women's rights. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted this week that women’s rights were “abused, threatened and violated” around the world and gender equality won’t be achieved for 300 years given the current pace of change. Progress won over decades is vanishing because “the patriarchy is fighting back,” Guterres said. Even in countries that have pioneered advances for women, there have been recent setbacks for the feminist cause: This is the first International Women’s Day since the U.S. Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion last year and many states adopted restrictions on abortion. The United Nations recognized International Women's Day in 1977, but the occasion has its roots in labor movements of the early 20th century. The day is commemorated in different ways and to varying degrees in different countries. Women gathered in Pakistan’s major cities to march amid tight security. Organizers said the demonstrations were aimed at seeking rights guaranteed by the constitution. Some conservative groups last year threatened to stop similar marches by force. Women’s rights activists in Japan held a small rally to renew their demand for the government to allow married couples to keep using different surnames. Under the 1898 civil code, a couple must adopt “the surname of the husband or wife” at the time of marriage. The activists argued the law contributes to gender inequality because women experience strong pressure to take their husband’s name. Surveys show majority support for both men and women keeping their own names. In the Philippines, hundreds of protesters from various women’s groups rallied in Manila for higher wages and decent jobs. “We are seeing the widest gender pay gap,” protest leader Joms Salvador said. “We are seeing an unprecedented increase in the number of women workers who are in informal work without any protection.” The United Nations identified Afghanistan as the most repressive country in the world for women and girls since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The U.N. mission said Afghanistan’s new rulers were “imposing rules that leave most women and girls effectively trapped in their homes.” They have banned girls’ education beyond sixth grade and barred women from public spaces such as parks and gyms. Women must cover themselves from head to toe and are also barred from working at national and international nongovernmental organizations. Russian President Vladimir Putin gave state awards to women during a Kremlin ceremony to mark International Women’s Day, which is celebrated as a national holiday. He singled out a military paramedic and a journalist for fulfilling their duties in the area of the fighting in Ukraine. “There are no fields and professions in our country where women haven’t scored serious, remarkable results,” Putin said. “Your talents, knowledge, competence, responsibility and determination contribute greatly to the development of our country.” In Ireland, the government announced that it will hold a referendum in November to enshrine gender equality and remove discriminatory language in the country’s constitution. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said people will be asked to vote on a series of amendments to the constitution — including removing an “outmoded” reference to women’s place being in the home. The constitution, which was drawn up in 1937, currently states that the state shall endeavor to “ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home.” In Spain, more than 1 million people were expected to attend evening demonstrations in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities. Big rallies were also organized in many other cities around the world, while in some countries only minor events were held. Although Spain has for years produced one of the world’s biggest turnouts on March 8, this year’s marches are marked by a division within its own left-wing government over a sexual liberty law that has inadvertently led to the reduction of sentences for hundreds of sexual offenders. Spain’s feminists are also split over a new transgender rights law that went into effect last week, allowing the free change of gender by anyone 16 and older. The tension spilled over Wednesday in a public event for Women’s Day when a group of young women interrupted Equality Minister Irene Montero to argue with her over the transgender law that some feminists argue threatens to erase or displace women. Activists and left-wing governments in Spain have advanced women's rights in areas such as abortion access, menstrual leave and parental leave over the past two decades. Many European countries also have made strides toward gender equity. Hundreds of Kosovar Albanian women held a protest in its capital against domestic violence, throwing black-and-red smoke bombs at the police headquarters. “We march, do not celebrate,” was their main slogan. The marchers accused police, the prosecutor’s office and the courts of gender discrimination.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries. "Let us work together – across governments, the private sector and civil society – to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere," he said. The UN Chief made the call in a message marking International Women’s Day today. Women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved an estimated $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade — a loss that could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action, he said. Also Read: DigitALL: Role of tech in promoting gender equality highlighted this Women’s Day "On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls across all walks of life, in all corners of the world," Guterres said. But they also recognize the enormous obstacles they face — from structural injustices, marginalization, and violence, to cascading crises that affect them first and worst, to the denial of their personal autonomy and rights over their bodies and lives, he said. Gender-based discrimination harms everyone – women, girls, men, and boys, said the UN chief, adding that "International Women’s Day is a call to action." Action needed to stand with women who are demanding their fundamental rights at great personal cost, he said, adding that action is also required to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse. "And action to accelerate women’s full participation and leadership. This year’s theme stresses the need for technology and innovation to advance gender equality," Guterres said. Technology can expand pathways to education and opportunities for women and girls. But it can also be used to amplify abuse and hatred. "Today, women make up under a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and maths," Guterres said. And when women are under-represented in developing new technologies, discrimination may be baked in from the start. "That is why we must close the digital divide and increase the representation of women and girls in science and technology," said the UN chief.  

International Women's Day is being celebrated in the country, as elsewhere across the globe, on Tuesday recognising female leadership on climate change adaptation and response for a sustainable future. The theme for this year's International Women’s Day is 'Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow'. "The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change, and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the twenty-first century," the UN Women said in a statement. Also read: Greatest Films Featuring Women in Science “Without gender equality today, a sustainable future and an equal future remains beyond our reach,” it said. The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. In fact, International Women’s Day is observed every year on March 8 to celebrate women’s movement and struggle for equality, in the face of deeply entrenched patriarchy. To mark the day, different organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes. Five women will be honoured with ‘Joyeeta Award’ this year at an event arranged by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs later in the day. Education Minister Dipu Moni will chair the event at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city. This year’s Joyeeta awardees are Sanzida Akter Shimu from Shirajganj upazila in Razshahi division for scripting success in the economic sector; Dr Hossain Ara Arzu, associate professor at Rajshahi University for her contribution to the education sector, Khoshnahar Begum from Chattogram division as a successful mother, Jesmin Akter from Barishal division for fighting against oppression, and Rokeya Begum from Rangpur division for her contribution to social development. Also read: BAJUS honours 3 leading women of jewellery industry On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, greeting all women across the world. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and all private television channels have lined up special programmes for the day.

 Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said that BNP patronises evil forces which want to hinder the empowerment of women in the name of religion. 

Search engine giant Google is celebrating International Women’s Day by replacing its regular home page graphic with a special video doodle.

The International Women's Day is being observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the globe on Monday celebrating women's achievement, raising awareness against bias and taking action for equality.