Nilima Jahan

Nilima Jahan is a Staff Reporter at The Daily Star, deeply passionate about advocating for human rights, with a focus on women, children, and persons with disabilities. She's a proud mom to two beautiful daughters—one in heaven and one on earth. Reach out to her at nilima.jahan@thedailystar.net.

16 Days of activism: Will the dystopia for women ever end?

TDS: The Women’s Affairs Reforms Commission made 423 recommendations. How much has been implemented?

9 December 2025, 18:12 PM

16 Days of activism: The abuse that leaves no bruise

When 32-year-old Akhi (not her real name) finally left her marriage last year, it was not the beatings that drove her away. It was the slow erasure of her being.

6 December 2025, 18:43 PM

Need stronger political will for disability inclusion

As the country is set to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, Ekushey Padak-winning activist Md Saidul Huq has urged stronger political commitment to ensure the full participation of persons with disabilities.

2 December 2025, 18:00 PM

12 parties sign children’s rights manifesto

Twelve political parties yesterday endorsed a child rights manifesto outlining 10 non-negotiable commitments co-created by children and young people and supported by UNICEF ahead of the 2026 national election.

1 December 2025, 18:10 PM

16 days of activism: AI fuelling cyber violence against women

Experts warn justice system ill-equipped to handle digital crimes

30 November 2025, 18:40 PM

Empowered to stand on their own

When her husband fell ill in 2013 and could no longer work, 36-year-old Moni Begum from Sherpur’s Nakla upazila suddenly became the only earning member of her family. However, she refused to give up.

28 November 2025, 18:00 PM

16 Days of activism / When danger strikes, where can women turn?

Since Sharmin Akter (not her real name), 40, from Gazipur’s Kapasia, was married at just 12, she has endured relentless violence and abuse, describing the daily ordeal like “three meals a day”.

24 November 2025, 18:00 PM

World children’s day: 9% children doing hazardous work

Bangladesh is witnessing a troubling rise in child labour, with the latest government survey showing that about 9.2 percent of children aged 5-17 are engaged in work, up from 6.8 percent in 2019.

19 November 2025, 18:25 PM

Intimidation, harassment for speaking up

Female activists leading the recent anti-rape protests and the July uprising are enduring continuous intimidation and harassment, both online and offline.

14 March 2025, 18:00 PM

The unpaid household labour GDP ignores

Yasmin represents the millions of women excluded from the labour force, who say that family and household work is a significant setback to their employment.

7 March 2025, 18:00 PM

Footwork, fitness and fearlessness

There was a time when doctors told her there was no cure. A time when the world seemed to close in, whispering that this might be the end. But she refused to listen. She chose to fight -- not just with fists and footwork, but with the unyielding will of a warrior.

7 March 2025, 18:00 PM

International Women’s Day: The picture of violence against women is grim

While International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women’s rights, equality, and empowerment, the statistics from Bangladesh on violence against women paint a troubling and stark reality.

7 March 2025, 18:00 PM

Violence against women: Most victims abused by husbands

Women in Bangladesh are three times more likely to be physically abused and over 14 times more likely to suffer sexual violence from their husbands than from others, according to a Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics survey on violence against women.

27 February 2025, 18:00 PM

Sexual violence: Protests flare on campuses

Students across the country took to the streets yesterday, outraged by the “government’s inaction” amid a series of incidents of rape and sexual violence against children in recent days.

23 February 2025, 22:05 PM

Sanitary napkin fiasco: Bangla Academy blames it on the event manager

The Bangla Academy has apologised for shutting booths selling sanitary napkins at Amar Ekushey Boi Mela allegedly because of complaints from religious groups.

17 February 2025, 18:00 PM

Chaity breaking barriers through beauty services

Tanisha Yasmin Chaity from Rajbari never let her identity as a hijra limit her aspirations.

3 January 2025, 20:42 PM

Surge in road crashes: Patient overflow pushes NITOR beyond capacity

The National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) is struggling to manage an overwhelming number of patients, far exceeding its 1,000-bed capacity, leaving many to receive treatment on the floor or in overcrowded corridors.

29 December 2024, 20:09 PM

An endless wait for justice for rape victims and survivors

Nine years have passed since Sohagi Jahan Tonu was raped and murdered inside the restricted Cumilla Cantonment on March 20, 2016. The case filed for her murder was supposed to be resolved within 180 days. However, nine years on and there has been no significant progress.

9 December 2024, 18:21 PM