March 8 is celebrated as the International Women’s Day every year. This year 19 campaign allies In Bangladesh planned events from March 1-20 using International Women’s Day as a peg for its activities. During this period, the allies managed to mobilise 44,023 Change Makers.

The activities included: press conferences, rallies of people and vans, forming human chains, organising theme fairs, door to door campaigning, tournaments, displaying campaign posters on rickshaws, street theatre, folk dances, and display of posters and distribution of campaign literature.

The allies that played a significant role were Pollishree (in Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Joypurhat, Nilphamari and Naogaon),GUK (Gaibandha, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat), Bachte Chai (Pabna), SJA (Sylhet, Habiganj Sunamganj and Maulvibazar,), Drishti (Comilla), LIFD (Feni, Noakhali,), SDS Sariatpur (Shariatpur, and Madaripur), Prayas (Chapainoabgonj), DEW (Mymensing), Rupantar (Khulna), YPSA (Chittagong), AKK (Faridpur), RDPS (Rajbari), and TUC.

The responsibilities were distributed among the alliance members, lead organizations, upazilla committees, ward committees, other institutions and Change Makers. People were informed about the events through billboards, television programmes, radio jingles, specially held events and cultural programme, banner and leaflets. The local media gave the events wide coverage.

The events were hugely successful and attended by people from all walks of life, existing Change Makers, alliance members, government representatives, staff from educational institutions, women’s groups, law enforcing authorities and the media. Special upazilla level Change Maker assemblies have been held in Dinajpur and Sirajgonj.