Published: 12:52 AM, 15 October 2026
22 rural women of Barendra region honored
A total of 22 rural women from the Barendraregion have been given the "Rural Women Award-2026" in recognition of their contributions to agriculture and agro-biodiversity conservation, promotion of indigenous seeds, eco-friendly farming, and women's economic self-reliance.
On the occasion of International Day of Rural Women, they were honored on Wednesday at the BilnepalparaAgroecology Learning Center in Pabaupazila of Rajshahidistrict, BSS reports.
The award was organisedby BARCIK and Green Coalition.
Women from Paba, Tanore and Nacholeupazilas of Chapainawabganj received the honor.
Some of them are conserving and exchanging indigenous seeds, some are cultivating diverse vegetables and fruits while others are producing organic fertilizer, cultivating water-saving crops and promoting the use of environment-friendly stoves.
The award recipients are-- Shilpi Begum, Ayesha Begum, Minara Begum, PannaBegum, Mahmuda Begum, Morjina Begum, Setara Begum, PaniMurdi, Sumi Begum, Pori Tudu, ChichiliaHasda, Anjali Rani, TithiSoren, MainoBaskey, SagoriRani, Selina Begum, Tahmina Begum, Shahana Begum, Bilkis Begum, RubinaKhatun, Jesmin Begum and MarjinaTudu.
Among them, Shilpi Begum rears 230 livestock of five species in her homestead. She exchanges 25 types of seeds. Ayesha Begum is conserving and exchanging 14 varieties of indigenous bananas suitable for the Barendra region.
Minara Begum has made environment-friendly stoves for 120 women in six villages and has motivated them in this regard.
Setara Begum has exchanged 21 varieties of vegetable seeds among 145 women in five villages. MarjinaTudu, besides collecting 47 varieties of seeds, is exchanging seeds among 175 women in 10 villages.
At the beginning of the programme, BARCIK's anthropologist and regional coordinator Shahidul Islam said, the honored women have not limited agriculture and environmental conservation to production only.
Through seed exchange, mutual cooperation, practice of local knowledge and building organisations, they are strengthening the practice of sharing knowledge and resources in rural society.
President of Green Coalition's PabaUpazila chapter Rahima Begum presided over the event.
MahbubSiddiqui, district president of Green Coalition, said at the event, "It is the rural women who are protecting our agriculture. They are the protectors of traditional agriculture."
Local farmers, women organizers, environmental activists and people from all walks of life were present at the event.
