South Asia | Bangladesh | Education

40% of girls miss school due to lack of appropriate restrooms

As much as 40 percent of girls choose not to go to school for an average of three days each month when they have their period because there are no appropriate restroom facilities, according to a study by the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). The National Hygiene Baseline Survey says that menstrual hygiene is a serious challenge for girls in Bangladesh due to a lack of understanding and general education about it.

South Asia | Bangladesh | Activism

The Dhaka slum being transformed by women

Source: BBC

The Urban Partnership for Poverty Reduction began in Korail in 2010, with funding from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and British overseas aid. Every 20 households banded together to form a "primary group" of stakeholders, with elected representatives of each of these groups forming community development communities. These, in turn, elect members to the top layer, known as clusters, which are then a point of contact for outside development assistance. Kazi Morshed, of the UNDP, explained to me how the system came up with ideas from the residents that his organisation had not envi

South Asia | Bangladesh | Crimes

Rohingya women exploited as drug mules and prostitutes

Source: Reported.ly

Their lives are fraught with vulnerability and exploitation. In their host country Bangladesh, about 30,000 Rohingya are officially recognized as refugees – and therefore eligible to receive government and international support. Meanwhile, the unregistered Rohingya population of approximately 500,000 fends for itself. Such a vulnerable group in focus becomes an easy target, particularly girls and women. Having crossed the border through the “Friendship Road”, or by fleeing and coming [to Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh] through the Naf River by boat, many are taken advantage of by c

South Asia | Bangladesh | Society

In Bangladesh, a Mobile App Provides a Platform Where Women Can Feel Free to Talk

Source: GlobalVoices

When you hear the word Maya Apa, its sound like a human name. But it is not. It is an Android-based mobile application. This application gives advice on a variety of health, social and legal issues to the women of Bangladesh. Through this app any woman can ask any question without revealing her name. The app maintains total anonymity for its users, who only need an email address to register. Expert advice is usually provided within 24 to 48 hours by a team of doctors, lawyers and counsellors. They respond in the language indicated by the user’s questions. A startup called maya.com.bd has

South Asia | Bangladesh | Politics

Bangladesh: Both Political sides eroding their legitimacy among citizens

Source: Bloomberg

The widening polarization in Bangladesh threatens to hobble an economy that is now the world’s second-biggest exporter of garments after China. It also may swell the ranks of Islamic militant groups in the predominately Muslim country. Bangladesh’s political fight largely comes down to two women, Wajed and Zia, who are both family members of former national leaders who were assassinated. The army has seized power at least four times, most recently in 2007, when the generals tried unsuccessfully to oust them both from politics. Wajed’s father founded the ruling Awami League, which t

South Asia | Bangladesh | Culture

Bangladesh Government Honors 11 Women Dedicated to Protecting Human Rights

Source: Plan International USA

Eleven women working with Plan International in Bangladesh were recently recognized for their dedication to the fight against domestic violence. They were honored as Joyeeta for their sustained work through the Protecting Human Rights (PHR) project. Joyeeta, which means “one who has achieved victory,” is awarded each year by Bangladeshi Ministry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs for outstanding contributions to women’s social, political, and economic empowerment, on the occasion of Begum Rokeya Day. Begum Rokeya is widely recognized as a pioneer for women’s empowerment in Bangla

South Asia | Bangladesh | Business

Students invent best solution to keep food fresh

Source: Pangeatoday.com

Four students from the University of Dhaka beat more than 300 teams from 51 countries to win the international “Thought For Food” (TFF) challenge held in Portugal. TFF is a movement dedicated to tackling the global challenge of feeding 9 billion people using innovative solutions. TFF used to arrange an annual competition to encourage students from all fields of study to develop new ideas that can make a difference.