Today marks International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is being observed today across the country, as in the rest of the world, with the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”

Mohammed Shahabuddin and Tarique Rahman have issued separate messages marking the day.

In a message on Saturday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his government is giving top priority to ensuring women’s safety and has adopted a strict stance against cyberbullying and online harassment targeting women.

Extending his greetings and congratulations to women across the world, the prime minister said sustainable national development is only possible when women’s rights, education, health, safety and participation are ensured.

“In this context, this year’s theme — ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls’ — is very meaningful and timely,” he said.

Tarique Rahman noted that women make up nearly half of the world’s population and that no country can achieve real progress if women remain outside the mainstream of governance, politics and decision-making. He said balanced development at home and in society is not possible without women’s economic empowerment.

The prime minister said the Proclaimer of Independence, Ziaur Rahman, and the Mother of Democracy, Khaleda Zia, played pioneering roles in advancing women’s political and economic empowerment. During Ziaur Rahman’s tenure, a Women’s Affairs Division was created in 1976 under the President’s Secretariat. Later, in 1978, a Ministry of Women’s Affairs was formed, which was transformed into the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in 1994 during Khaleda Zia’s government.

To strengthen women’s socio-economic empowerment, Khaleda Zia introduced free education for girls up to the 12th grade, a step the prime minister described as revolutionary for women’s advancement in Bangladesh.

Continuing that legacy, the current government has introduced the Family Card, which will be issued in the name of the female head of the household to enhance women’s economic empowerment.

The government, he said, remains committed to ensuring women’s active and meaningful participation in education, the economy, health, politics and all areas of national life.

“As part of our election commitments, our goal is to gradually introduce free education up to the postgraduate level, increase women’s participation in higher education, provide free school uniforms for girls, expand digital learning opportunities and strengthen a modern education system,” he said.

He added that the government is also giving the highest priority to women’s safety and has taken firm measures to tackle cyberbullying and online harassment.

“We want to build a Bangladesh where women and men enjoy equal rights and opportunities — a Bangladesh where women can work with dignity, respect and safety in their families, communities and the nation. Let equality be our commitment, dignity our reality and empowerment the foundation of our development,” he said.

The United Nations has been observing International Women’s Day since 1975. This year’s theme highlights the importance of ensuring rights, justice and opportunities for all women.

The day is marked worldwide through various programmes aimed at emphasising the need for concrete action — not just discussion — to uphold women’s rights and dignity, while celebrating women’s economic, political and social achievements.

The theme seeks to encourage collective efforts to achieve gender equality and promote women’s empowerment through cooperation, support and resource sharing, recognising that women’s advancement benefits both society and the economy.

The observance of the day traces its roots to the historical struggles of women workers. In 1857, women textile workers in New York in the United States staged protests against wage discrimination, demanded fixed working hours and opposed inhumane working conditions, though the demonstrations were suppressed by authorities.

On 28 February 1909, the first international women’s conference was organised during a women’s rally arranged by the Social Democratic women’s organisation in New York under the leadership of German socialist leader Clara Zetkin.

At the second International Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910, Zetkin proposed that March 8 be observed annually as International Women’s Day. Around 100 women representatives from 17 countries attended the conference and agreed that the day should be observed from 1911 as a day dedicated to women’s equal rights.

Socialist groups in different countries subsequently began observing the day, and from 1914 March 8 started being celebrated in several countries.

The United Nations formally recognised March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975 and encouraged countries to observe it. Since then, the day has been marked globally with various themes announced each year.

In Bangladesh, different programmes have been organised at the national level under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to observe the day, while various government offices and organisations have also undertaken initiatives to mark the occasion.