“International Women’s Day 2009”

celebration with sports personalities of Bangladesh  

Women's step in the history of sports of Bangladesh is not a prolonged one. Only a few born sport passionate women have contributed and have come forward with an open mind and have contributed in the sports sector. Even sharing the same culture and values, Bangladesh women's role in the sports world is negligible compared to the similar cultured South Asia. The reason considered respectively being family, social, religious dominance over on women's economic dependency, life system led by neglected basic rights, insecurity associated with discriminatory perspective for women at government level and social standpoint.

Starting from playing grounds to sports teaching institutes and even at the top administrative level there remains history of prolonged discrimination and negligence, however, this disease yet sustaining at different crust of the society. Bangladesh women has successfully earned their merit and talent and left a bright sign on the sports world of Bangladesh. Their uninterrupted meditation, bravery and perseverance have helped them successfully earn several international prestigious awards and thus have brought merit and prestige for the entire nation.

Crossing the borders of self interest and social in capabilities, several women have chosen sports as their main target of life. But the history of their sacrifices has yet not been given the prestige and status as it deserved. Their hardly earned successes have always stayed surrounded by the barrier of discrimination.

To overcome this barrier, sports should be viewed not only as an element of culture or entertainment but as exhibitor of women's physical and psychological strength, as a way to make women self dependent or independent, and as the    main weapon to diminish the discrimination between men and women and to patronize participation of women, to be ensured and safeguarded. Women role in sports are not ornamental but suitable competition between men and women- excepting this truth, discrimination between men and women should be diminished, women's empowerment with the means of sports and to pay deserving respect to women sports personalities may be the morning light that would shine upon the women’s portion in Bangladesh Sports. Let sports lead the women towards strength, protest against discrimination and ultimately head towards the hit the highest point of women empowerment.

NUK celebrated 8th March (International Women’s day) with famous female sports personalities of Bangladesh at CIRDAP auditorium. NUK successfully organized a discussion meeting, the topic being “The position of women in Bangladesh Sports”. The program started from 3:00pmwith the inaugural speech from Ms. Mashuda Khatun Shefali, Executive Director of NUK, where she spoke about improvement and promotion of sports for women in Bangladesh and presented the current status and expected for a brighter future with a more favorable environment to encourage more female participation in sports.

The chief guest for the program was Mr.Ehsanul Fattah, Secretary (Ministry of Sports) accompanied by Mr. Kutubuddin Ahmed, (Secretary General, Bangladesh Olympic Association) and Ms. Ferdous Ara Khanam (Deputy Director, Bangladesh Olympic Association) and Ms. Kamrunnahar Dana (renowned sports personality who have been awarded with National award in Sports) as special guests.

Respect has been shown to the deserving sports personalities with prestigious awards and certificates for their outstanding contribution in Bangladesh Sports.