Farida Akhter: Women Will Drive Bangladesh’s Future Development

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said that women are progressing rapidly in skill development with dedication and sincerity, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh’s future development.

She made these remarks while addressing the ‘July Kannaya Award-2025’ distribution ceremony as the chief guest. The event was organised by the July Kannaya Foundation at the auditorium of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB).

“At the policymaking level, we are working to bring the daughters of July forward, but opportunities for them at the national level remain limited,” she said. “Even today, the eyes of mothers of the July martyrs well up with tears when they hear the national anthem.”

Although the number of female participants in the July movement was relatively small, their contributions were profound, Farida Akhter said, adding that mothers played a critical role in every chapter of Bangladesh’s struggles.

She highlighted that women have been at the forefront of every major movement—from the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War to the mass uprising in 2024—and stressed the importance of formally recognizing their contributions.

Underscoring the need for women’s advancement, the adviser noted that women make up 51 percent of the population and must not be left behind. "Rights are not handed over—they must be earned," she said, urging the July Kannaya Foundation to continue working for women's empowerment.

The event was presided over by Jannatul Naim Promy, president of the July Kannaya Foundation. Other speakers included the mother of Shaheed Abrar Fahad, Stamford University student Nusrat Jahan Tumpa, the mother of Shaheed Nayma Sultana, and July warrior Ayman.

During the ceremony, 100 selected women were formally honoured with the ‘July Kannaya Award-2025’.