Project Inception Meeting of "NAGORIKATA" Project

Project Inception Meeting of "NAGORIKATA" Project

A project inception meeting was organized by the organization SoDESH in collaboration with the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Dhaka, on July 23, 2025, in Satkhira. The event marked the official introduction of the project titled “Enhancing the Capacities of Women, Men, and Other Marginalized Groups in Bangladesh to Advance Accountability and Human Rights Culture.” Funded by the Embassy of Switzerland and Global Affairs Canada, the project aims to promote human rights, ensure gender equality, and empower women, men, and marginalized communities through specific, goal-oriented initiatives.

As part of this initiative, a project orientation meeting on the “NAGORIKATA” project was held at the Digital Center of the Satkhira Sadar Upazila Parishad. The meeting focused on increasing public participation, strengthening accountability, and promoting a culture of human rights through the active involvement of women, youth, and marginalized communities. The session was presided over by Madhab Chandra Dutta, Executive Director of SoDESH, while SM Azizul Haque, District Youth Development Officer, attended as the chief guest. The event was conducted by Azharul Islam, Program Officer of the Citizenship Project.

Distinguished guests at the meeting included Principal Abdul Hamid, a noted educationist; Fatema Zohra, Program Officer at the Department of Women Affairs; Md. Mofizur Rahman, Chairman of Bashdaha Union Parishad; Md. Lutfur Rahman, Chairman of Fingri Union Parishad; Montosh Kumar Sadhu, Secretary of Baikari Union Parishad; Md. Rafiqul Islam, Secretary of Shibpur Union Parishad; Shyamal Kumar Biswas, Executive Director of SIDA; Alinur Khan Babul, District President of Gono Forum; and Jyotsna Dutta, General Secretary of the District Women’s Council. Several other local leaders and representatives of civil society, including Abdus Samad, Swapan Kumar Saha, Anisur Rahman, Ashok Pal, and A.K.M. Abu Zafar Siddique, were also present.

The Citizenship Project will be implemented in Baikari, Bashdaha, Shibpur, and Bhomra unions under the Satkhira Sadar Upazila and will run until June 30, 2027. SoDESH, with technical support from ASK Dhaka, will directly implement the project locally. Speakers at the event mentioned that the project aims to reach 23,000 people directly and 600,000 people indirectly, emphasizing that women, youth, civil society representatives, local government officials, and stakeholders from both government and non-government organizations will play a crucial role in achieving the objectives aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 and 16.

Among others who attended the event were Advocate Najmun Nahar Jhumur, Md. Abdul Mannan from Breaking the Silence, Abdul Hai Siddique, Program Officer at OCC, Sheikh Mohammad Ali, Project Coordinator at Uttaran, and Gourpada Das from the Dalit Council.