Tahira Shamsi Utsa

Just five years ago, if you told someone that they could commute to and from the Boi Mela in just an hour, they would have laughed at you and called you delusional.

The award recognises those who exceed expectations in safeguarding refugees, displaced individuals, and stateless people

Every day, Fatima Islam fights a silent war to protect her 12-year-old daughter, Nisha, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), from a society that is yet to fully embrace children with special needs.

Shanta Akhter, a 29-year-old garment worker, lives in a small room in the basement of a building in the capital’s Mirpur-7.

Young parents Parul and Mijan became concerned when their only child, 16-month-old Aytullah, was having trouble standing up or sitting down -- activities that kids his age would easily perform.

Anandi*, a 23-year-old homemaker from Ramu, faced gender-based violence as soon as her in-laws learned that she was pregnant with a girl child.

Jebunnessa*, a 15-year-old, has been admitted to the Severe Acute Malnutrition unit at Ramu Upazila Health Complex with her child, Afsan, a ten-month-old boy suffering from the same medical condition.

“I did not know I had hepatitis C, not even during my pregnancy,” said Muslima Kader Mili, a 35-year-old mother of two.

“I did not know of ways to access my basic civil rights like having a national identity card or filing for a birth certificate,” said Rani Akter, a homemaker and mother of three currently living in the capital’s Mohammadpur.

Right after Samin* was born, his doctor ran tests and confirmed that he had down syndrome.

Dhaka University’s attempt to break period-related stigmas and provide easier access to menstrual-hygiene products has hit a snag. Despite the installation of sanitary pad vending machines throughout the campus, many female students are left without the intended benefits due to the machines malfunctioning.

Shetu Akhter and Aminul Islam were filled with joy when their daughter was born in 2019. But that joy was short-lived as Ahona, their daughter, was diagnosed with thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder, just within 19 months of her birth.

Umme Kulsum was terrified when she encountered a mother in labour with no dilation around 3:00am at Brac centre in Dhaka. After several attempts, she could only bring out the baby’s head. The mother was exhausted from all the pushing. But Kulsum trusted her midwifery skills and eventually conducted a normal delivery.

Eighteen-year-old Julekha Begum, of Tejgaon slum, was married off at 15 and is currently in the ninth month of pregnancy.