With the inspiring slogan, “সব বাধা পেরিয়ে নারী যাবে এগিয়ে” (Women Will Move Forward Overcoming All Barriers), RHSTEP’s Aparajeyo Tarunno (UYP) Project celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 with due dignity at its Barishal Centre on 8 March 2026.

The celebration was organized with the participation of students from local schools and colleges through a special discussion meeting and awareness program aimed at promoting gender equality, women’s rights, and social awareness.

The event formally began at 11:30 AM with an introduction session among participants, followed by a welcome speech. A documentary highlighting the historical background and significance of International Women’s Day was also presented to create awareness among attendees.

One of the key attractions of the program was a special presentation and group work session on women’s rights and achievements, where participating students enthusiastically shared their thoughts and opinions.

During the event, Youth Officer Joy Hari Biswas discussed the origin and historical significance of International Women’s Day. He emphasized that true national development is not possible without ensuring equal opportunities and progress for women, who represent half of society’s workforce.

The entire program was lively and engagingly conducted by Project Mentor Abir Mahmud. In the concluding session, UYP Project Officer Salma Khanom delivered the closing remarks, encouraging the younger generation to play an active role in eliminating gender discrimination and supporting women in overcoming barriers to progress.

To conclude the celebration, a quiz competition was organized to assess participants’ learning and awareness, followed by prize distribution among the winners. Additionally, participants were assigned a creative writing follow-up activity titled “What Should an Ideal State for Women Look Like?”, which they will submit in the following week.

The program successfully created a platform for awareness, participation, and empowerment, reaffirming RHSTEP’s commitment to promoting gender equality and youth engagement in the community.