News stories by Saima W. Hossain

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jul 08 (IPS) - The issue of women's rights, feminism and gender is complex and ongoing in most countries including Bangladesh. When I was asked to write about impact of COVID-19 on women and girls, I found myself drawn towards writing about women's situation in general as that automatically impacts COVID-19 response as well. Since I am a woman who has been a part of many different cultures, yet a Bangali at heart, I am not only a survivor within its ranks but also responsible for being a part of the solution to the problems we face.

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Mar 30 (IPS) - A few days ago, a friend said to me that my focus on autism, although rather successful, had "sucked out all energy from other critical areas of social need in Bangladesh."

My friend wanted to know if I would be interested in expanding my visibility and successful approach to autism, to other issues that have apparently been left by the wayside due to everyone's eagerness to work on an issue popular with the Prime Minister's daughter!

I know my friend's statement was meant to be provocative, but it also made me reflect on what it was that I had set out to do when I began working in this area in Bangladesh.

Has enough been achieved for me to ‘pass on the baton' to the many others who have now dedicated themselves to this issue, thereby beginning to shift my focus towards addressing other social needs both in Bangladesh and elsewhere?