11 women get Ananya award
Born with visual impairment, Ummay Tanzila Chowdhury Munia has been struggling throughout her life with darkness but nothing could stop her zeal for education.
Enlightened, Tanzila is now spreading the light of education among students of Mohsina Model Government Primary School in Patia, Chittagong.
Yesterday the assistant teacher was honoured with the “Anannya Shirshodosh 2016” award for her outstanding contribution in the education sector at the capital's Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh.
Ananya, a fortnightly feminist magazine of Bangladesh, awarded 11 women for their outstanding contributions to their respective areas.
“Disabled persons are not a burden. They can contribute to society if proper opportunity is provided,” said Tanzila while sharing her feelings afterwards.
Tanzila and her three sisters were born with visual impairment. Their parents moved from the village to Chittagong city to educate their daughters. All of them are highly educated.
Tanzila took part in a course on digital content development at the capital's Teacher's Training College. She is now developing digital content for children.
One of the 11 award winners is Sonia Bashir Kabir.
Sonia, who is the managing director of Microsoft, Bangladesh, received the award for her performance in the technology sector.
She also received Finders Award of Microsoft. In 2016, the UN secretary general appointed her as a specialist in the governing council of technology bank.
Director General of Bengal Foundation Luva Nahid Choudhury bagged the award for her organisational skills. She is a member of the editorial board on art and literature based magazines “Kali o Kalam”, “Six Season Review” and “Jamini”.
As the second Bangladeshi female to conquer mountains and the first Bangladeshi female to have climbed the seven highest peaks in seven continents, Wasfia Nazreen received the award for mountaineering.
Maliha Quadir is the founder of www.shohoz.com, an online based ticket booking website in Bangladesh. She received the award for being the best entrepreneur.
Anima Mukti Gomez is a folk singer and former secretary of “Bangladesh Lokosangeet Parishad”, a community for folk musicians. She was awarded for her performance and contribution to music.
Supriti Dhor is the founder of Women's Chapter, an online portal. Her online portal won the best of online activism award in the competition of Global Media Forum Award of Deutsche Welle, Germany. She received the Ananya award for journalism.
Mabia Akhter and Mahfuza Khatun both received the Ananya award for sports. Mabia is the first woman to have won gold in the south Asian games for Bangladesh while Mafuza in swimming.
Arpana Gosh's debut was in the “Third Person Singular Number” movie. She received a national film award in 2013 for the role of a co-actor. Yesterday Ananya Magazine awarded her in cinema category.
Sahida Aktar Jhorna was dubbed Malala by the prime minister of Norway. Member of Plan Bangladesh International, an organisation working for children's rights, and Juba Nari Sangha, an organisation for women, she was awarded in the social activity category.
The daylong programme started with a performance of “Sadhona” dance group at around 10:30am.
Documentaries on the lives of the awardees were screened. Anima Mukti Gomez, one of the recipients of the award, sang a song.
The editor of Ananya Magazine, Tasmima Hossain, in her welcome speech, praised the 11 women who showed excellence in their respective arenas.
She said, “Women are always capable of accomplishing wonders. The 11 women are the proof.”
Former foreign minister Dipu Moni, Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir and first female vice-president of Dhaka University Students' Union Mahfuza Khanam graced the awarding programme with their presence.