Citizens' Rights Fair Jan 22-23

With a view to creating awareness about the rights of the citizens, a two-day Nagorik Adhikar Mela (Citizens' Rights Fair) is going to be held on January 22 in the city.
A total of 55 grassroots level development organisations, which have been working to promote the rights of the poor and the marginalised, will organise the fair at Shilpakala Academy.
Nagorik Adhikar Mela Organising Committee comprising Ain O Salish Kendra, Brac, Brac Development Institute (BDI) of Brac University, Karmojibi Nari, Media Nagorik Forum, Nijera Kori and Steps Towards Development are coordinating the fair.
This was announced at a press conference organised by BDI at the institute at Mohakhali in the city.
Syed M Hashemi, director of BDI, said the fair, which aims to create a platform for the organisations working on human rights, is being organised with the financial contribution of the participating organisations.
Explaining the reason behind organising the fair, Simeen Mahmud, lead researcher of BDI and coordinator of the committee, said BDI conducted a research on the issue of citizenship based on a survey of 2,400 rural poor people of seven districts where they found that although most of the people think they are citizens but not everyone believes that all citizens are equal.
The objectives of the fair are to address the general perception that all citizens are not 'equal' and establish that every citizens of the country has the 'right to have rights', she said, adding that the fair will create awareness about the rights people of the country are entitled to as citizens.
The fair will be open for all.
Syed M Hashemi said although they are organising the fair in the capital, they have a plan to hold the fair in district levels, too.
Lotipa Huq, senior research associate of BDI, and Shipa Hafiz, director of Training Division, Gender Justice and Diversity of Brac, also spoke at the press conference.