Phulbari Workshop Champions Women & Marginalized Rights

A two-day workshop focused on empowering women and marginalized communities began Monday at the Upazila Agriculture Office in Phulbari Dinajpur.

Titled the "Gender Dialogue and Mutual Experience Exchange," the event aims to strengthen participants' rights, foster inclusive leadership, and increase their presence in local decision-making.

The Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) organized the initiative under its Saman Awaaz (Equal Voice) project. It is supported by Global Affairs Canada, the Coady Institute, and St. Francis Xavier University. The program concludes on Tuesday.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ahmed Hasan inaugurated the workshop as the chief guest, joined by Upazila Agriculture Officer Saif Abdullah Mostafin and CCDB Senior Monitoring Resource Officer Ibne Azam Badhan as special guests. Area managers Khatija Khatun and Mahfuza Nazneen also addressed the attendees.

Organizers emphasized that the workshop's core mission is building a gender-equal society. Monday’s sessions featured participatory discussions on feminist leadership, inclusive governance, and the distinctions between gender and sex. Through group brainstorming, local stakeholders and CCDB officials examined power dynamics, intersectionality, and strategies to dismantle systemic barriers to women's leadership.

The initiative is expected to significantly boost grassroots capacity for social justice and equitable inclusion in the region.