JCI celebrates the strength, perseverance and ingenuity of women achievers of the country. Nahid Tabassum comes back being inspired
With a vision of enabling and aiding women to undergo their rite of passage into becoming an empowered woman, Junior Chamber International (JCI) organized “Women of Inspiration Award 2020” on Friday, March 6, 2020, at the Ballroom of Westin Dhaka, on the occasion of Women’s Day.
At the end of a flourishing decade for women, JCI recognizes and celebrates the triumphs of nine extraordinary she-leaders who outstretched society’s paradigm of an ideal woman by creating employment, seeking social purposes, shattering stereotypes and generating a positive impact on society. These ladies have set new standards of achievement challenging the status quo and establishing equality with a pledge to Recognition Towards an Equal World JCI celebrates the strength, perseverance, and ingenuity of women achievers of the country. Nahid Tabassum comes back to being inspired by ethical standards throughout their journey of excellence.
The ceremony was a mere means of appreciation hosted by Sarah Kamal, 2020 National President of JCI Bangladesh. “In coherence with the past few themes of Women’s Day, this year’s theme was ‘An equal world is an enabled world’, that truly embodies my philosophy of women empowerment and the stance of JCI Bangladesh as an organization,” the President says. “This recognition is a small attempt from us to say ‘Thank You’ for inspiring today’s generations and many more generations to come,” she adds.
Former Minister of Cultural Affairs, Asaduzzaman Noor, MP, joined the commemoration as the Chief Guest, along with Dr. Rubana Huq, President of BGMEA; Sidsel Bleken, Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh, as the Guests of Honour. Countering gender biases in different professional fields, JCI introduces categories such as academia, technology, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, finance, art, culture and heritage, fashion, public sector, and so on, to recognize the contribution of the wondrous women in the bloom of their vocation. With that, JCI awarded Bibi Russell, Dr Carmen Z. Lamagna, Humaira Azam, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Mantasha Ahmed, Nadia Samdani, Rubaba Dowla, Sheepa Hafiza and Dr. Tanzima Hashem for their magnificent display of finesse and irrefutable success regardless of sectors.
From the iconic face of Bibi Russell who set up Bibi Productions Fashion for Development in 1995 to save craftspeople of Bangladesh to Dr. Tanzima Hashem, a professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, women from diverse poles of professions were justly accounted for the efforts in making contributions to the society as well as to the same sex. “Women can reach their true potential as they learn to balance between priorities and head through hurdles incessantly,” Dr. Tanzima, one of the top 100 scientists in Asia according to Asian Scientist Magazine (2018), says.
To her parallel, the visage of ethnic fashion of Bangladesh around the globe and the humanitarian, Bibi Russell states, “My work resembles all the effort and hard work aims to preserve and glorify the heritage of my country, foster creativity, provide employment, empower women to advance the eradication of poverty.” The fete gathered a number of dynamic women from different segments of society such as Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, the current Vice-Chancellor of American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) and the first female Vice-Chancellor of a University in Bangladesh; Kanak Chanpa Chakma, the internationally commended artist; Nadia Samdani, Co-founder and President of the Samdani Art Foundation and Director of the Dhaka Art Summit; Rubaba Dowla, Country Managing Director of Oracle Bangladesh; Sheepa Hafiza, human rights activist and the Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, a rights organization and so forth.
Humbled by JCI’s gesture and in cheering for her clan, Sheepa Hafiza says, “Women of Bangladesh are contributing and winning in all spheres of life; be it traditional or else. I believe change is possible with collective choice and interest and 2020 is going to bring about all the good changes for good,” she smiles victoriously.