Dhaka Credit Hosts International Women’s Day Event Highlighting Women’s Rights

The Christian Cooperative Credit Union Ltd., widely known as Dhaka Credit, one of Bangladesh’s largest community-based financial cooperatives, marked International Women’s Day on March 7 at the Tejgaon Church Community Center in Farmgate, a commercial district of Dhaka, the country’s capital. Thousands of women participated in the program, which focused on women’s dignity, rights, and participation in social and economic life.

This year’s theme, “Today’s Action, Tomorrow’s Justice: Protect the Rights of Women and Girls,” framed discussions on gender equality, leadership, and community development.

The keynote address was delivered by Sr. Shikha Gomes, principal of Holy Cross College, a leading Catholic women’s institution in Dhaka. She called for greater recognition of women’s contributions and urged institutions and communities to create opportunities that allow women to participate fully in society.

“When women are given opportunity and respect, they respond with remarkable generosity,” she said, adding that dignity, recognition, and support enable women to develop their abilities and contribute more effectively to society.

Sr. Gomes commended Dhaka Credit for its programs promoting leadership training, workplace rights, and financial inclusion for women. The cooperative, founded by the Catholic community in Dhaka, serves tens of thousands of members and has developed various initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s economic participation.

She encouraged women to trust their own abilities, noting that confidence begins with the conviction that “I can.” Women, she said, play essential roles in families and society, sustaining households, raising children, and contributing to community life.

At the same time, she criticized social attitudes that portray women mainly as objects of beauty or tools for advertising and entertainment. “Women are neither products nor toys,” she said, stressing that their value cannot be defined by appearance or domestic roles alone.

Sr. Gomes also pointed to the continuing struggle for women’s rights. The fact that women must still demand recognition and protection of their rights, she said, reflects ongoing social challenges. She also urged women to support one another and reject forms of violence or discrimination within their own communities.

“A country cannot progress if more than half of its population is left behind,” she said.

Participants said the message resonated strongly with the audience. Rupa Gomes, a homemaker who attended the event, told RVA that the speech encouraged her to view herself differently.

“It changed the way I see my own worth,” she said, adding that she now feels more confident about speaking out against injustice affecting women.

Gender-based violence remains a serious concern in Bangladesh. Studies indicate that a significant proportion of women experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, often within marriage.

Against this backdrop, Dhaka Credit continues to promote women’s participation in cooperative leadership and financial services. The organization currently has more than 40,000 members and is led administratively by a female secretary, reflecting efforts to strengthen women’s roles in community-based institutions.

Organizers said the event aimed to recognize women’s contributions while encouraging greater awareness of their rights and opportunities for leadership in Bangladeshi society.