Office Address
Dhanmondi, Joypurhat-5900
Phone Number
+8801719454941
Dhanmondi, Joypurhat-5900
+8801719454941
by Dr. Sazzadul Bari
Event Report · DHRNS Project
On 29 October 2026, the monthly meeting of the Joypurhat District Human Rights Defenders Network was held at the CRD Conference Room in Aramnagar, Joypurhat town. The meeting was organised by Action and Light under the Defending Human Rights Through Network Strengthening (DHRNS) project, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and implemented in cooperation with Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF). Participants included network members, women and other elected representatives, women’s and youth organisations, and members of different ethnic and religious communities, each of whom shared their views. Representatives of the Upazila Gender Equality Forums also took part under the EmpowerHer project, and the meeting was supported by the EmpowerHer Upazila Facilitator, Biplob Ali.
| Role | Name and designation |
|---|---|
| Chair | Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, District Convener of the Network and veteran human rights activist |
| Special Guest | A. R. Asaduzzaman Raju, veteran educationist of the district |
| Present | Dr. Sazzadul Bari, Executive Director, Action and Light |
| Moderator | Abraham Abhin Das, Network member and representative of the district’s minority communities, especially the Christian community |
| Present | Zakaria Mondal Shimul · Joint Convener and disability rights activist |
The meeting opened with members reviewing and approving the minutes of the previous meeting. The following issues were then raised.
Presented an overview of the current human rights situation across Joypurhat district.
Expressed concern about the human rights situation in the border-area communities of Joypurhat Sadar and Panchbibi.
Raised concern about violence against children and women in the district and discussed practical steps to respond.
Spoke about the security risks faced by human rights workers.
Discussed ways of protecting communal harmony in the district.
Discussed what the Network can do to protect young people from online gambling, suicidal tendencies and moral decline.
Members discussed possible responses to child abuse and sexual violence reported in madrasas across the country, and Dr. Bari shared his views.
Presented a concrete outline for linking people in the district with the District Legal Aid Office and other government and non-government legal services through the Network.
Stressed the importance of specific monitoring and fact-finding of human rights violations occurring in the district.
Dr. Sazzadul Bari, Executive Director of Action and Light, outlined the goals and objectives of the project, the organisation’s possible roles, and coordination with the Network. He thanked members and sought continued cooperation from all stakeholders.
Dr. Sazzadul Bari moved a condolence motion on the death of Tipu Sultan, former Project Coordinator of MSF. All present observed one minute of silence in his memory.
The Chair, Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury, thanked all participants and underlined the role of Network members in protecting the human rights of people at every level of society in the district. He invited everyone to attend next month’s meeting and formally closed the session.
Action and Light · Defending Human Rights Through Network Strengthening (DHRNS), Joypurhat
Funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) · In cooperation with Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF)
#ActionAndLight #HumanRightsDefenders #Joypurhat #NED #MSF #DHRNS