Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) is currently implementing three different projects. These are: Promoting Rights through Mobilization and Empowerment (PRiME), Promoting Rights of Women Through Changing Mindset and Making Education gender responsive and preventive to HIV/AIDS.

Promoting Rights through Mobilization and Empowerment (PRiME)

Ms. Rokeya Kabir, the Executive Director of BNPS is delivering her introductory speech to the participants of Annual Progress Review Workshop of PRiME Project

BNPS is mainly grounded at grassroots; working with the marginalized women in rural areas and urban slums. Promoting Rights through Mobilization and Empowerment or PRiME is the core program of BNPS which translates the mission statement of the organization into action. With the support of EED, Germany this program was initiated in July 2008. After successful completion of this one-year program in June 2009, it has been extended for another three years (July 2009—June 2012). MISEREOR of Germany has joined EED to support the 2nd phase of PRiME..

This is the first major project BNPS has undertaken after the end of six-year long government blockade imposed on BNPS to access foreign fund.

Activities of the project are being implemented in Netrakona, Barhatta, Sandwip and urban areas of Chittagong and Dhaka city. A total of 47 Union Councils and Wards of one municipality, two City Corporations and three Upazilas have been covered by the project activities.

To improve economical, social and cultural status of women and disadvantaged people following major activities are carried out under the project:
- Building women’s organizations
- Developing their leadership capacity for social action and economic activities
- Enhancing women’s participation in local governance
- Enabling them to manage their livelihood through skill development and accessing to market, and
- Mobilize community to advance social causes which impact on women’s advancement and empowerment.

In the present phase, special policy advocacy initiative will be undertaken to Implement Chittagong Hill Tract Peace Treaty and Promote Rights, Harmony and Development in CHT.

In addition to direct beneficiaries, socially and economically disadvantaged women, of the project women organizations, community and political leaders, government officials, students and teachers of schools, colleges, and universities and other potential people’s organizations as well as members of the civil society groups are also involved in different advocacy program activities of the project.

The experience of past phase of PRiME has proven the effectiveness in creating more space for poor and marginalized women groups for improving their condition in family and society. Besides, as social-actor youth/student, teachers, civil society members, and opinion makers will continue playing a supportive role in the struggle of establishing a democratically dignified and gender just society.

Promoting Rights of Women Through Changing Mindset

The two-years long project “Promoting Rights of Women Through Changing Mindset”, aimed at making effective interventions to push the policy makers to deliver women’s constitutional rights in Bangladesh. This project is being financially supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) . Institute for Environment and Development (IED)  is the implementing partner of this project.

The country has significant constitutional provisions and statutory laws guaranteeing human and fundamental rights and women’s equal rights. However, it is well recognized that poor quality of governance and non-implementation of these national policies has undermined the constitutional pledges.

The project has been implementing to identify the gaps and sensitize various actors like policy makers, government duty bearers and civil society, as well as the international community to take up targeted interventions for increased status of women.

The project’s activities include conducting studies on the present status of women in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), in national budget allocations and the implementation of government policies and international covenants on gender issues. These three studies, entitled (i) “Study to identify the status of women in PRSP in Bangladesh”, (ii) “Study to Identify the Status of Women in National Budget of Bangladesh” and (iii) “Study to Identify the Status of Implementation of Policies and other Commitments related to Women in Bangladesh” are being coordinated by Dr. Kaniz N. Siddique (International Consultant, Ministry of Finance, GoB), Dr. Protima Paul-Majumdar (Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies) and Dr. Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman (Public Administration Department, Dhaka University) respectively.

Findings of the studies will be disseminated through organizing seminars, workshops, consultations, and media campaign. In the process of organizing these activities various sections of the society including government officials, professional groups, intellectuals, columnists and journalists will be involved along with women’s groups and civil society networks.

After a successful implementation of the project, it is expected that the issues of women and marginalized groups will be integrated into the national policies and budget from a rights and equity perspective instead of a welfare perspective and a process of movement will be organized for integrating women’s issues in the national policy and budget and their appropriate implementation.

Above-mentioned policy studies are the legacy of earlier works carried out by BNPS since 2001. Allocation for Wonen in National Budget (2001), Reflection of Women’s Voice and National Gender Objectives in the National Budget of Bangladesh (2003), National Education Budget of Bangladesh and Empowerment of Women (2005), Role of National Budgetin Developing Entrepreneurship Among Women of Bangladesh (2006), Factors Affecting Utilization Efficiency of Allocation Earmarked for Women’s Development in the Matopma; Budget of Bangladesh. (2007), Role of Fiscal Policy in Achieving a Gender Responsive National Budget Bangladesh (2008) are the policy analysis studies on gender budgeting initiative by BNPS. PRSP in Bangladesh from Gender Perspective is the analysis of PRSP done in 2008.
……………….

Sharing of Findings of Study on “Status of Women in PRSP in Bangladesh”

Netrakona

Institute for Environment and Development (IED) in collaboration with Bangladesh Nari Progati Songha (BNPS) organized a workshop for sharing the findings of research report entitled “Status of Women in PRSP in Bangladesh.” This workshop was held on October 1, 2009 at Press club auditorium, Netrakona. The workshop was moderated by Ms. Shahnaz Sumi, Deputy Director of BNPS and presided over by Professor Jatin Sarkar while Dr. Kaniz N. Siddique, the consultant of the study, presented the research findings. Mr. Md. Nurul Amin, Deputy Commissioner, Netrakona attended the seminar as chief guest. Mr. Swapan Pal (Swabolombi, a local NGO), Ms. Rehena Siddika and Mr. Habibur Rahman, ex-teachers were the panel discussant in the event. About 64 participants from different ministries of the government, LG representatives, civil society members, women leader, businessperson, development activists, lawyers, political leaders & activists, teachers, journalists provided their insights on the study. Among others, Mr. Khandokar Anisur Rahman, local Secretary of Communist Party of Banglades, Mr. Sanwar Hossain Bhuian, local President of Udichi (a national cultural organization), Mr. Ziaur Rahman Khokon, Secretary of Shikor (local cultural organization), Ms Rehena Siddika local Secretary of Mohila Parishad, Ms. Tuhin Akter, Vice chairman of Netrakona UZ (local government tier), Ms. Alpona Begum, local correspondent of national daily Sangbad and Mr. Gazi Mozammel Hossain Tuku, Secretary, Chatro League (student organization) participated in the open discussion.

A partial view of the workshop

The research argued that that a half of the population is women, so no development is possible excluding them. Considering barriers and reality of women regarding their economic and social status, PRSP was formulated but not adequately addressed the multi-dimensional issues of women. 27% households in Bangladesh are headed by women but they own only 2% of total land. Bangladesh could not proceed to achieve gender equality with discriminatory personal & religious laws, political culture, patriarchal socio-economic system and mindset and lack of political commitment. She also emphasized the importance of gender sensitivity of the community and policy-makers and recommended a gender responsive framework into PRSP & other policy formulation process in the country to reduce gender-gap for holistic development.

This study was conducted under BNPS’ policy study and advocacy project entitled, Promoting Rights of Women through Changing Mindset. As the implementing partner of the project IED organized this local level workshop to disseminate the findings of the study and to gather opinion of various local level stakeholders.

Barisal

Sharing of findings of the study “Status of Women in PRSP in Bangladesh” was held on October 14, 2009 at Press club auditorium, Barisal. The workshop was moderated by Ms. Shahnaz Sumi, Deputy Director of BNPS and presided over by Professor Md. Hanif, ex-principal, BM College, Barisal. Mr. Palash Kanti Bala, Assistant Deputy Commissioner (Education) of Barisal district and local human rights activist Dr. Habibur Rahman attended the seminar as chief guest and special guest respectively. Ms. Delwara Islam, ED, Bodhumata Sheba Shomity, Barisal; Ms. Foyzunnesa Shely, Lecturer, Islamia College, Barisal and Mr. Hafizur Rahman, ED, IRD, Barisal were the panelists in the event. Sixty-three participants from different sectors (government officials including social service officer, local government representatives, civil society members, women leaders, businessperson, development activists, lawyers, political leaders & activists, cultural activists, trade union leaders, teachers, students, journalists) took part in the workshop.

The participants of the workshop claimed that the enormous contributions of the women are not fully recognized while the economic growth of the country is highly praised. On the other hand women get disproportionately smaller share of the gains from these achievements. In the IPRSP women are presented primarily as a destitute group and as passive beneficiaries of the actions of others. The strategy must address the fact that women need regular employment, reasonable income options, decent work conditions and safe work places just as much as men do. They require applicable skills, capital for investment, personal security in public and private spheres, access to public and private services. Women need access to networks and groups for solidarity and protection against oppression and exploitation. Women need space and the skills for participation in social and political processes. The PRSP was expected to address gender issues with the aim of empowering women in general.

…
Making Education gender responsive and preventive to HIV/AIDS

Ms. Nazneen Akhter, the Executive Director of HASAB is conducting a session with BNPS staff on HIV AIDS

BNPS has undertaken the Making Education Gender Responsive and Preventive to HIV/AIDS project in March 2009. This project will contribute to develop an effective education and awareness system that effectively address the gender inequalities, power imbalance and its impacts on reproductive health and spread of HIV/AIDS. With the support of Oxfam Novib this project will continue until February 2011.

This project will try to achieve following five objectives:

• In order to develop education materials appropriate for this project a mapping of materials produced by public and private sectors in relation to gender, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS will be done

• Gender responsive, reproductive health/HIV/AIDS-oriented lesson plans and learning materials will be developed

• Teaching capacity and knowledge level of selected school teachers, community health workers and BNPS front line staff/volunteers will be developed

• Students/young women and community people will be sensitized on gender inequalities and its impact on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS

• A national consensus about reformed education system sensitive to gender, and its impact on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and poverty will be build.

Activities of this project will be implemented in Dhaka (metropolitan city) and Netrokona district (urban area) and Barhattta upazilla (rural area) of Netrkona. 800 students (60% girls and 40% boys) of six schools will participate in this program directly. In addition to this community members (parents/guardians and adolescent girls) will also receive awareness on gender inequalities and its perceived impact on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.

Twenty four teachers, 20 frontline staff of BNPS and 16 Community Health Workers (CHW) will be equipped with necessary capacity, awareness and knowledge to conduct sessions both at schools and in the community for a total number of 9,290 male and female participants from different section of people.

The project ultimately aims at influencing policy-makers, civil society groups and government officials to incorporate the issues of gender inequality and its impact on HIV/AIDS in school curriculum.

As of September 2009, a consultant is analyzing contents of different education materials developed by various government (NCTB and MoHFW) and non-government (six national five international) institutes to identify the gaps and suggest alternatives.

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Author: Kavaljit Singh
Bangali Translatator: Monwer Mustafa
Bangali Edition Editor: M M. Akash

Globalization has become the cliche of our times. The neo-liberal virus has struck almost everybody including within the ranks of the left.. The proponents of neo-liberal globalization claim that it produces “accelerated, efficient” development along with a deepening of democracy and human rights. However, reality shows the opposite and any rigorous examination of such arguments reveals their shallowness and inconsistency.

Social progress and democracy can only take place in tandem and on condition that we move away from the dogmas of neo-liberalism. This book underscores the point that current economic disasters are not the “price” we have to pay for a transition towards the promised paradise, but on the contrary are bound to get worse as long as neo-liberal economic policies are pursued. .

This book makes a critical analysis of several contemporary debates around globalization. With the help of case studies, statistical data and cogent analysis, the book debunks several myths associated with globalization processes. Written for a non-technical .audience readership, the author fundamentally questions the viewpoints held by the “hyper-globalists”.

His book not only contributes to deepening the current debates on globalization but ought to “” become an indispensable tool of analysis for concerned citizens, students, social and political J~ activists, labor unions, NGOs, and policy makers.

Women in struggle - in different era, is a collection of the unsung stories of the women who took part in various struggles in Bengal at different periods of time - from the anti-British movement to the liberation war. A total of 200 women, many of them unknown to the common people but whose contribution is unforgettable, shared their brave stories, experience and work in this book. The write-ups of this book is based on their interviews taken by the BNPS staff who worked hard in remote areas of Bangladesh and India in search of these unrecognized women. This book elucidates on the role of women in the struggles and helps to look at our history from a different perspective.

This book is divided into 2 volumes - each contains stories of 100 women. The stories in the first volume ranges from anti-british movement to the mass upsurge of 1979. The second volume covers the liberation war. Sangrmi Nari Juge Juge is edited by Rokeya Kabir, the executive director of BNPS, Selina Hossein, an eminent Bengali author and Ajay Dasgupta, an renowned journalist.

This booklet consists of 20 case studies taken from the organization’s working area highlighting legal difficulties that the poor women in Bangladesh face; and some findings based on the experiences that BNPS has gathered and the obstacles it has encountered in more than a decade while providing legal aid support.

Author/Editor : Mozammel Haq

This booklet was published after the local government election of 1998 when, for the first time, women were elected by direct votes in % seats reserved for them.

It analyzes the condition of the women members of the Union Parishad, the only active tier of a 4-tier local government system of Bangladesh.

Author: Jyoti Prakash Chotyopadhaya

The women UP members in the working area of BNPS and fellow organizations have been mobilizing themselves through sharing meetings, discussion, debates, training, planning and other activities to ensure effective local governance and empowerment of women. This publication is an assortment of information collected from these events.

Author : Mohammed Hannan Ph.D.

An analysis of fatwa (a legal decision or ruling by an Islamic religious leader) against development in the historical perspective, this book explains fatwa in Islam along with the history of fatwa in the subcontinent and how in the post liberation war period in Bangladesh fatwa has been used to stifle the freedom of expression and progressive thoughts. This book also reveals how women are the worst victims of fatwa.

Author : Muzib Mehdy
Editor: Abul Mumen and Rokeya Kabir
Published date : May 2001

This publication is the continuation of BNPS’ earlier work on Madrasah Education, the first publication of this series being “Madrasah Education in Bangladesh: Background, Present Status and the Position of Women” published in 1997.

The fundamentalist forces, currently active, have emerged as a strong barrier to all progressive movements including the womens movement. In this context, BNPS felt the necessity to renew, reevaluate the data collected in the past studies as well as to reexamine the whole issue. This effort resulted in this booklet.
Translation from Bangla: Nadia Shabnam
Published date : September 2003
Price : Tk. 80.00 (English) and Tk. 60.00 (Bangla)

If you want to read this book, please click in Bangla in English.