Published : 10 Aug 2026, 03:19 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:31 AM
The United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, UN Women, and UNOPS Bangladesh have jointly held the national dissemination event of “She Leads Tomorrow”, celebrating the leadership and aspirations of young women and adolescent girls across Bangladesh.
Supported by the Joint SDG Fund, the initiative empowered more than 1,000 adolescent girls and young women to become leaders and changemakers in their communities, according to a statement.
The event was held at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
The event brought together senior government officials, lawmakers, diplomats, UN representatives, development partners, civil society leaders, academics, media personalities, and young women leaders to discuss the future of women’s political leadership and inclusive governance.
Ziaur Rahman Foundation Vice-President Zubaida Rahman attended as chief guest, while State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki and Prime Minister’s Office Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs Prof SM Abdul-Awal also joined.
Zubaida praised the achievements of the young participants and stressed the need to nurture future women leaders.
“When young women are empowered to lead, they strengthen not only their communities but the future of our nation. Their voices, ideas and leadership are essential to building a more inclusive and prosperous Bangladesh,” she was quoted as saying by the UN.
Saki emphasised the importance of women’s participation in achieving Bangladesh’s development goals.
“Women’s meaningful participation is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Empowering young women to lead today means building stronger institutions and a more inclusive Bangladesh for tomorrow,” he said.
Abdul-Awal said, “SDG localisation is about turning national commitments into meaningful action in communities. Young women must be active partners in that journey, shaping the decisions and solutions that will define Bangladesh’s future.”
UN Resident Coordinator ad interim in Bangladesh Carol Flore-Smereczniak underscored the importance of partnerships in accelerating progress towards the SDGs and ensuring that no one is left behind, the statement said.
UNOPS Bangladesh and Bhutan Country Manager Sudhir Muralidharan stressed the importance of investing in young women’s leadership to build stronger institutions, inclusive governance and resilient communities.
UN Women Bangladesh Representative Gitanjali Singh also highlighted the need for enabling environments where women and girls can lead, participate and influence decisions affecting their futures.
A major highlight was the launch of the “She Leads Tomorrow” coffee table book, featuring stories of courage, resilience and leadership from project participants.
Guests also inaugurated a photo exhibition showcasing the experiences of adolescent girls and young women whose lives were transformed through the initiative.
The programme included participant experience sharing, storytelling, a video screening and an inclusion ceremony, followed by panel discussions on women in diplomacy, women in politics and the role of media in advancing gender equality.
Implemented from September 2025 to August 2026 in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi, the 12-month project engaged more than 1,000 adolescent girls and young women from government schools, madrasahs and marginalised communities through leadership development, mentorship, civic education, policy dialogue and advocacy.
The initiative also strengthened collaboration among local government bodies, civil society, think tanks, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, the private sector and development partners to advance localisation of SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.
A key outcome was the development of the Bangladesh Model for SDG Localisation, a scalable framework designed to promote collaborative action, strengthen local ownership of the SDGs and put young women’s leadership at the centre of sustainable development, the statement said.
As the project concludes, the organisers said “She Leads Tomorrow” represents the courage, determination and aspirations of young women working to shape a more inclusive, peaceful and equitable Bangladesh.
