Fifteen women volunteers and women-led initiatives were awarded the "Inspiring Women Volunteer Award 2021" Tuesday in the capital for their critical role amid the Covid-19 pandemic. UNV, VSO, Plan International, and ActionAid jointly organised the award campaign. The top five winners are Faridpur's Taheatul Jannat from; Dhaka's Kamrun Nahar Koly, Tashnuva Anan, Rangpur's Arifa Jahan Bithi, and Noakhali's Ayesha Akter. The top five winners received prize money of Tk1 lakh to Tk10,000. The women volunteers were selected based on their contributions towards Covid-19 response in health, awareness-raising, food distribution, innovation, working against gender-based violence, child protection, education, WASH, environment, and mental health. Women take on 57 per cent of volunteering globally; volunteering strengthens their participation, which helps reduce inequality, speakers at the award-giving ceremony said. Read: Some Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh in Diverse Sectors

Thirteen women were awarded the "Woman of Inspiration Award 2021" Saturday (March 27, 2021) on the occasion of International Women's Day. Global nonprofit organisation JCI Bangladesh organised the programme at a Dhaka hotel to honour the exceptional women "who inspire others to be more and do more." The inspirational women received the award in different categories including entrepreneurship, banking, legal affairs, business innovation, medical innovation, defence, art and culture, fashion and beauty, media, and corporate leadership. Read Legendary Women in Bangladesh with Pioneering Contribution in Diverse Fields.