Local human rights activists joined the discussion highlighting the need for active involvement in promoting human rights and gender equality. Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, Sept 9, 2025 (BSS) - Collective efforts of all government, non-government and volunteer organisations can be the best way of protecting human rights for ensuring dignified life of the women, youth, and other marginalized groups.
 
People of all levels should raise their voices for establishing their equal rights in the society apart from forging social resistance against the violators of human rights.
 
Government officials and development activists came up with the observation while addressing a project inception meeting, where all the participants expressed their commitments to work together to attain the cherished goal, here today. 
 
Inception of the “Engage Now: Enhancing Engagement of Women, Youth, and Other Marginalized Groups to Foster Accountability and Advance Human Rights Culture in Bangladesh” project was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office today.

Association for Community Development (ACD) is leading the project in Rajshahi as part of the Nagorikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) Programme. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is providing support, and the project is funded by the Embassy of Switzerland and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Additional Deputy Commissioner Zobaer Hossain, Assistant Commissioners Sehrin Tabassum Tithi and Samia Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Development ATM Golam Mahbub and Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs Shabnam Shirin addressed the meeting as guests of honour.

Aziza Asfin, a Fund Management Expert at GFA Consulting Group, gave an overview of the Nagorikata: CEF Programme along its aims, objectives and implementation strategies. 

Rokonuzzaman from Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and Monirul Islam Payel of ACD presented visual overviews of the project on behalf of their respective organizations moderated by Subrata Kumar Paul.

Local human rights activists joined the discussion highlighting the need for active involvement in promoting human rights and gender equality.

They also stressed improving access to justice for the poor and marginalized through legal aid, and called on state institutions to take stronger action against violence toward women and children.

As part of the project, ACD announced plans to form a Human Rights Lawyers’ Forum to improve access to justice for the poor and to advocate for reforms in the legal and judicial system.