One such pause came recently when I opened an invitation in my inbox marking the International Women’s Day celebration.

“Working here has given me a clear realisation — women across the globe face similar struggles and share similar dreams. Only the languages and cultures differ, but our experiences are largely the same,” she says.

The Daily Star recently invited women candidates who participated in the 13th parliamentary election to share their thoughts about their campaigning experience, the challenges they each faced, and what inspired them despite all the hurdles.