SI was privileged to take part in the Commonwealth’s ‘Women as Agents of Change’ competition, launched to celebrate the theme of Commonwealth Day 2011. Although we were restricted to only 3 nominations we received many fantastic submissions. This week, we will be running a special blog series to celebrate all the nominations – a fitting close to a month where women have been celebrated across the Commonwealth!

Dilara Choudhury – Bangladesh

Dr Dilara Choudhury is a member of SI Dhaka, Bangladesh. A specialist in South  Asian politics she holds a PhD in Asian Government from the

University of
Dhaka. Twice, in 1989-90 and 1991-1992, she has been to the Southern Asian Institute of

Columbia University,
USA. In late 1990s, she worked on nuclear issues between

India and

Pakistan as a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the Office of International Affairs at the

University of
Maryland,

USA.

Currently she teaches Political Science at the

North
South
University in
Dhaka. She is the author of  books and numerous  articles in professional journals  and also contributes as a columnist and commentator in a number of English newspapers.

She is a member of many educational, women’s and other organisations, including Soroptimist International, Board of Trustees and the Bangladesh Association of Commonwealth Society. She had the honour of monitoring

Pakistan’s National Assembly elections in 2002 as a member of a Commonwealth Observation Group.

Dilara is a leading figure among women in

Bangladesh. Through her publications and writings she strongly highlights issues relating to women’s empowerment in

Bangladesh. In recognition for her work on gender issues she was awarded Rokeya Podhok, a prestigious national award, in 2004. For her pioneering work, The Sexual harassment of Bangladeshi Women at the Workplace, she received a University Grants Commission award in 2005.

Her work on sexual harassment has been extensively cited by the Bangladesh High Court in its historic verdict that gave an operational definition for sexual harassment and instructed all public and private institutions and organisations to adopt sexual harassment policy to protect employees. This verdict was a milestone in the history of

Bangladesh’s women’s movement.