ActionAid, IUB honour women in sports

With International Women's Day to be observed tomorrow, ActionAid Bangladesh and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) yesterday jointly organised an event at the university auditorium to honour the top women sports persons of the country.

Eleven women achievers from different sporting disciplines were introduced and honoured before the audience, which featured members of parliament, members of civil society, academics, students, sporting personalities and journalists.

Shirin Akter -- fastest woman of the country; Ashrin Mridha -- women's basketball team captain; Rumana Ahmed -- women's cricket team captain; Wasfia Nazreen -- famed mountain climber; Maria Manda -- captain of women's under-15 football team; Samaun Anjum Auroni -- first female professional golfer of the country; Tasmina Akter -- 12-year-old horse jockey from Naogaon; Shahnaz Parvin Maleka -- women's kabaddi team captain; Zakia Sultana Tumpa -- national gold medallist shooter; Sonia Akter -- national gold medallist swimmer; Mabia Akter Simanta -- Saff gold medallist weightlifter -- all these eleven women were introduced as small descriptions of their struggles and achievements were highlighted. They were also handed flower bouquets and certificates by the dignitaries.

The event was hosted by Actionaid's country director Farah Kabir, with the university's vice-chancellor Dr Omar Rahman, MPs Keya Rahman and Arif Khan Joy, actor Afzal Hossain, women's rights activist Khushi Kabir, sports journalist Mostafa Mamun and others giving speeches encouraging women's participation in sports.