‘Nirbhaya’ Award celebrates five women driving change in their communities

Asma Begum lost her father when she was just one, and married off by the time she was 13 years old.

Her husband eventually abandoned her -- leaving her to raise two children in extreme poverty. To survive, she took on gruelling manual labour, cutting soil and chopping wood.

“I have done everything -- collected fallen leaves, caught fish, and even begged for old clothes for my children,” recalled Asma, her voice trembling yet resolute.

Today, the once-helpless girl from Pirojpur is a successful entrepreneur and community leader who recently spearheaded the repair of a local road. Villagers now see her as a leader, with many urging her to run for the Union Parishad.

Asma’s journey was one of five inspiring stories highlighted today at the IDB Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon. She, along with four other changemakers, was honoured with the “Nirbhaya” (The Fearless) Award, a recognition celebrating women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership.

The award is a joint initiative of UNDP Bangladesh and The Daily Star, introduced to mark International Women’s Day and to spotlight women whose work is driving meaningful change in their communities.

This sixth edition celebrated women who transformed personal tragedies and struggles into triumphs in remote areas of Bangladesh.

The 2026 Nirbhaya awardees represent a diverse spectrum of courage.

Joining Asma on stage were Jatila Rani Shil from Bandarban, who has become a fierce advocate against child marriage and harassment in her community; Konkolata Mondal from Khulna, who shattered gender norms by becoming the first woman in her village to sell her agricultural produce directly in the local market; Khushi Chakma from Rangamati, who transformed her life through papaya cultivation; and Trinalom Rong, a Union Parishad member from Sherpur, who is ensuring legal justice for indigenous women through village courts.

'The true giants'

Addressing the event, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam reflected on the subtle ways gender discrimination persists even in educated households.

Sharing a personal anecdote about the birth of his daughter, he noted how relatives discussed her marriage prospects while celebrating the career potential of his nephews.

"I feel small standing before these women," he said.

"They are the true giants. They are fighting against centuries of prejudice, against culture, and against social values to pave their own way.”

He also suggested a follow-up programme to track the progress of the 30 Nirbhaya awardees honoured over the last six years.

UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liller echoed this sentiment, describing the awardees as "everyday heroes."

He also emphasised that despite Bangladesh’s progress in education and economic empowerment, the shrinking space for women in political leadership -- evidenced by the low number of women in the recent national election -- remains a concern.

The ceremony also saw the unveiling of a special photo book titled “SWAPNO: Women Leading Their Own Future.”

The book documents the transformative journey of women under UNDP's SWAPNO project, which focuses on the economic empowerment of ultra-poor rural women.

According to UNDP Bangladesh, Nirbhaya initiative this year is supported by the project Gender-Responsive Costal Adaptation, which is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).