International Women's Day will be celebrated nationwide on Saturday, like worldwide, to promote equality and protect women's rights.
The day is marked globally with various events to prevent violence against women, ensure equal rights for women and men, recognize women's work, and celebrate economic, political, and social achievements.
This year’s theme is “Rights, Equality, Empowerment: Development of Women and Girls.” On this occasion, separate messages have been given by President Mohammad Shahabuddin and Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.
In his message, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus said: "The current interim government is relentlessly working to achieve the goal of building a developed Bangladesh by engaging women’s potential and skills in productive work. This should be our commitment for the development and empowerment of women in Bangladesh."
The Chief Adviser also said: "Women were at the forefront of the uprising organized by students, workers, and the people in July-August last year, which aspired for democratic transformation in Bangladesh. Millions of female students protested against oppression in various campuses. Several women were martyred in this popular uprising. I respectfully remember those who sacrificed their lives in this movement and express my condolences to the July warriors."
It is noteworthy that this day began on March 8, 1857. At that time, female workers in a sewing factory in New York, USA, raised their voices for reducing daily working hours from 12 to 8 hours, fair wages, and ensuring a healthy work environment.
Many women were arrested and tortured in prison for protesting. Three years later, on the same day in 1860, the "Women's Workers Union" was formed. In 1908, around 1,500 female workers in the garment and textile industries protested with similar demands, and eventually gained the right to work 8 hours a day.
On this day in 1910, at the International Socialist Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, German leader Clara Zetkin declared March 8 as International Women's Day. Since then, the day has been observed as International Women's Day worldwide.
In 1975, the United Nations began observing March 8 as International Women's Day during the International Women's Year.
Two years later, in 1977, the United Nations officially recognized the day as International Women's Day. Women's Day is the day to honor women's achievements in all areas, whether ethnic, group, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political, without discrimination.
On this day, women remember their long history of struggle for their rights and determine the path for the future, so that the days ahead will be even more glorious for women.
