Local leaders activists and citizens gathered in Morelganj on Wednesday to discuss strategies for eliminating violence against women, emphasizing that collective social resistance is essential for building a peaceful society.
The Women’s Peace Support Platform (WAVE) organized the discussion at Rawshan Ara Smriti Women’s Degree College under the theme, “Building a Bangladesh of peace and harmony, not conflict.”
Speakers at the event highlighted that gender-based violence is not merely an individual or private family issue, but a major barrier to broader societal progress. They stressed that families, educational institutions, and local leaders must unite to tackle the root causes of abuse.
“To ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of women, we need proper enforcement of the law and social accountability alongside public awareness,” the speakers noted in a shared statement. “Not silence, but awareness, compassion, and collective social resistance are the most effective tools to prevent violence.”
Sabina Yasmin, organizing secretary of the Morelganj Upazila BNP, chaired the meeting. She underscored the importance of grassroots social movements to protect vulnerable populations.
“We must build collective resistance to stop all kinds of violence against women,” Yasmin said. “WAVE will continue working to establish women’s rights, security, and dignity.”
The event drew a diverse group of local representatives. Mukta Khanam Mahmuda, WAVE coordinator and Municipal Women's Party president, moderated the discussion. Attendees included WAVE Co-Coordinator and journalist Shefali Akhter Rakhi, PFG member Koli Akhter, Upazila Islami Chhatra Andolan President Abdullah Al Naeem, and Youth Peace Ambassador Group members Jannati Akhter Mim and Israt Jahan Taiba, alongside local women entrepreneurs.
The meeting was implemented under the Multi-Stakeholder Initiative for Peace and Stability (MIPS) project. The initiative is run by The Hunger Project Bangladesh with financial backing from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and supervised locally by MIPS Field Coordinator Md. Rezbiul Kabir.
