Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka advances menstrual equity

Under the leadership of President Anhara Siddiky and in partnership with Zonta District 25 Governor Dr. Zareen Delawar and Correspondent Secretary Aniza Choudhury, the Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh, launched a groundbreaking menstrual equity initiative at Bharateswari Homes, uniting health, legal education and feminist advocacy to empower girls and dismantle barriers to education.

President Anhara led a multidisciplinary team—including a human rights lawyer and a medical doctor—to deliver interactive sessions on bodily autonomy, legal rights, and menstrual health. These workshops challenged cultural taboos and framed menstrual equity as a fundamental human right, equipping students with the knowledge and language to advocate for themselves.

The program also introduced state-of-the-art sanitary pad vending machines and prepaid cards, integrating infrastructure with critical pedagogy. Through engaging discussions, students emerged more informed and confident, ready to challenge stigma and reclaim agency over their bodies and futures.

This intersectional model, praised internationally, redefined menstrual equity as both a health issue and a tool for systemic change. From symbolic acts like releasing biodegradable balloons with messages of defiance to educational reform grounded in dignity and rights, President Anhara's vision elevated girls from passive recipients to empowered leaders in their own liberation.