The first national convention of women leaders was held at the auditorium of the social service department in the city under the banner of 'Bikoshito Nari Network'.

A total of 300 women leaders at grassroots level from across the country took part in the convention.

The Hunger Project has been working with these women with a view to build up a self-reliant Bangladesh.

These women leaders are already engaged in income-generating programmes and social reformation.

At the same time they are preparing themselves as leaders to take strong stand in decision-making process at local and national level.

They also vowed to become self-reliant and work as pressure group to resist dowry, early marriage and dropout of girl students from educational institutions.

Inaugurating the convention, eminent litterateur Selina Hossain said the issue of leadership is closely related to women's empowerment.

She however said the progress that the country made under the women's leadership in last 15 years is questionable.

Selina urged all to use the power appropriately and remove patriarchal mentality from the society.

"We, who are leading the women's rights movement, have failed to realise our demands although we are struggling for a long time," writer and researcher Maleka Begum said, adding that women are still the victims of dowry-related violence.

Speaking as chief guest, eminent economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmed said women should be given complete independence in taking decisions.

"A flock of confident women leaders at grassroots level has been working to change the state and position of women in society and it is not NGO activities at all, rather it is a concerted effort," said Prof Badiul Alam Majumder, global vice-president and country director of The Hunger Project.

Former director general of the Directorate of Women Affairs Nilufer Begum, cultural activist Afroza Banu, Executive Director of For You Forever Rehana Siddiqui and women leader Tazima Hossain Majumder were present at the convention.