Interactive program between women journalists from Nepal and Bangladesh concluded

May 12 ,Kathmandu. An interactive program has been concluded in Dhaka, highlighting the need to build a network based on common interests and challenges between women journalists from Nepal and Bangladesh.

At a program organized at the embassy's auditorium in collaboration with the Initiatives of Media Women (IMW) and the Nepali Embassy in Bangladesh, the chief guest, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Indira Rana Magar, said that structural and social barriers to women's participation in the media sector still persist.

Deputy Speaker Rana Magar, stating that she is a close witness to the problems faced by women journalists as a social activist, said, "Joint efforts are needed between women journalists from Nepal and Bangladesh to resolve the challenges faced by women journalists."

At the event, Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari praised the role played by women journalists in raising the stories of voiceless and marginalized communities and expressed confidence that such interactions would strengthen the relationship between the two countries at the people-to-people level.

Informing about the program, IMW President Laxmi Bhandari said that such interactive programs will help in strengthening the increasing participation of women in the media sector and their contributions. She opined that it is necessary for women journalists from both countries to identify common issues and build long-term friendship.

At the program, the founder and executive director of South Asia's largest women's social organization 'Thengmara Mahila Sabujj Sangh (TMSS)', Prof. Dr. Husne Ara Begum, expressed happiness that this kind of interactive program was being held for the first time and emphasized the need to continue such programs in the future as well.

The event was attended by over 50 female journalists from Nepal and Bangladesh. The participants raised their voices on the challenges they faced during their journalism practice, equality in the workplace, and safety.

Afifa Jahan (The Daily Country Today), Rukia Islam (The Business Standard), Moushumi Islam (The Daily Sun), Munima Sultana (Financial Express), Phimita Akhtar (Channel i), Kasfia Alom Jhilik (Ajker Patrika), and other female journalists working in prestigious media outlets in Bangladesh were present.

The participants expressed their belief that a permanent network can be built between women journalists from Nepal and Bangladesh to exchange information, train, share experiences, and work on common campaigns.