2 Bangladeshi Women Named in BBC 100 Women 2020 List

Two Bangladeshi women are named in the BBC's 2020 list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.

Rina Akter, a former sex worker, and Rima Sultana Rimu, a teacher, are both Bangladeshi women, reports UNB.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rina and her team of helpers served about 400 meals a week—including rice, vegetables, eggs and meat—to sex workers in Dhaka who found themselves without clients and struggled to feed themselves.

(Photo: Collected)

"People see our profession as demeaning, but we do it to buy food. I am trying to make sure women in this profession are not left hungry, and their children will not have to do this work," the BBC quoted her as saying.

Rima is a member of Young Women Leaders for Peace in Cox’s Bazar.

This programme, part of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders, aims to inspire young women from conflict-affected countries to lead and serve as peacemakers.

Rima responded to the Rohingya refugee crisis in her community by promoting gender-responsive humanitarian action. It organizes gender-sensitive, age-appropriate literacy and numeracy classes for Rohingya refugees and for women and girls in the community who do not have access to education.

She also uses radio broadcasts and theatre performance to raise awareness of UN Security Council resolutions, relating especially to women, peace and security, in her community.

"I am determined to bring gender equality to Bangladesh. I believe in the power of women and girls to fight for our rights. We will succeed," she said.

(Photo: Collected)

This year, 100 Women are highlighting those who are driving progress and making a difference in these tumultuous times.

The list includes Sanna Marin, who leads Finland's all-female coalition government, Michelle Yeoh, star of the new Avatar and Marvel films, and Sarah Gilbert, who heads Oxford University's coronavirus vaccine research, BBC reported Monday.

And in an extraordinary year - when countless women around the world have made sacrifices to help others - one name on the 100 Women list has been left blank as a tribute.

How were the 100 Women chosen?

BBC's 100 Women team drew up a shortlist based on the names they gathered and suggested by the BBC Network of World Service Language Teams.

BBC has been searching for candidates who have made headlines or influenced important stories over the past 12 months, as well as others that have encouraged stories to share, accomplished something meaningful or influenced their communities in ways that would not normally make news.

The name pool was then evaluated against this year's theme-women who led change-and measured for geographic inclusion and due impartiality before the final names were chosen.

BBC 100 Women recognizes 100 prominent and inspiring women around the world every year.

They make documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more room to stories that place women at the forefront of their lives.