Five women received the 'Unsung Women' award
Five women received the 'Unsung Women' award
Five women have been honored with the 'Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards' for their remarkable contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. This awards program, a joint initiative by IPDC Finance Limited and The Daily Star, recognizes women from the grassroots level who have made significant impacts in driving social change.
The Managing Director of IPDC Finance Limited, Rizwan Daud Sams, and The Daily Star's Editor and Publisher, Mahfuz Anam, presented the awards at a ceremony held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Dhaka on Monday night, September 9.
Since 2017, IPDC Finance Limited and The Daily Star have been presenting the 'Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards' annually to honor women who have made exceptional contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. To date, 42 women have received this prestigious recognition.
One of the five honorees, Suraiya Farhana Reshma, began her journey in 2014 by receiving training in fish farming and tailoring. With a loan of Rs 50,000, she started cattle rearing, and her success only grew from there. In 2016, she expanded into vermicomposting and tricho-compost production, later branching out into chicken and vegetable farming. Reshma has received numerous awards, including the National Youth Award 2022, the Jayita Award for the Rajshahi Division, and the Channel-I Award 2022. She is now empowering other women by offering training and employment opportunities on her farm. Despite lacking formal education, her hard work and dedication have made her a role model for many.
Nasima Akter from Jessore, an unstoppable environmental pioneer, has developed an innovative solution to reduce plastic waste by creating eco-friendly pens made from paper. Despite facing poverty and dropping out of primary school, Nasima launched her initiative in 2007, naming the pen 'Shuv Eco-Friendly Pen' after her son. Initially hesitant to promote her product, she began selling it widely in 2017. Today, she produces and sells around 6,000 pens weekly to various organizations and local shops. These biodegradable pens have been praised for their eco-friendliness and are highly valued by both students and environmentalists for their dual functionality.
Alpana Rani Mistry of Shyamnagar, Satkhira, a trailblazer of the silent agricultural revolution, has been tirelessly working since 2005 to preserve rare and endangered local plant species. Her seed bank currently holds seeds from 250 varieties of vegetables and medicinal plants, and she continues to expand it by adding new native species. Alpana exchanges seeds with local farmers and provides training to women farmers in seed production and the conservation of indigenous vegetables, playing a vital role in safeguarding local plant diversity.
Titu Pal from Cox's Bazar, a pioneer of agricultural innovation, has been supporting farmers for many years by providing cattle breeding and disease management services. He has played a key role in improving livestock quality and eradicating diseases in the region. To date, Titu has successfully conducted artificial breeding for 400 cows and goats, and has facilitated the vaccination of over 7,000 cattle. His success has uplifted his family's living standards by supporting his children's education and his husband's medical care. Inspired by his achievements, many others have ventured into cattle rearing as a viable livelihood.
Hlakroypru Kheang, a beacon of women's empowerment, is dedicated to uplifting underprivileged women in society. As the current advisor of the 'Gungur Para Tribal Women Development Organization,' she has been instrumental in providing financial aid for housing construction, offering low-interest loans for agricultural work, and supporting higher education, especially university admissions. Her work has profoundly impacted the lives of many women in the community, enabling them to achieve greater independence and stability.
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