When the Rana Plaza disaster took place, I was working as a journalist for a television channel. I covered the deadly disaster from the very first day. It was a horrible experience, indeed, to witness so many dead bodies, scarred faces, wounded body parts and the weeping faces of the survivors beneath the collapsed roof. As a journalist, I had the opportunity to go inside and witness the situation first hand. I can recall that I could not eat during the day, nor sleep at night. Even after the rescue operations concluded, I could not sleep for months. I still see corpses, blood, families crying and survivors wailing every time I think of the heart-wrenching disaster. I can barely contain my emotions. These emotions and realities remind me of the challenging situations the survivors face in their daily lives.

The influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh since 25 August is now over 370,000 with the figures increasing daily. They are being supported by the Government of Bangladesh, local and international non-governmental organisations and host communities.

Since joining with ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB) in 2014, I am working on developing the Handloom business as well as handloom sector in Bangladesh. At the time of working with the sector, I gathered a lot of information and data which are hindering the growth of the sector. Nowadays, the sector is declining stage but there is a good prospect of handloom products in our country and outside of our country. The government sector, the private sector and many fascinated individual of Bangladesh are working for the development of the sector but growth is not in significant position.

The dialogue with Adriano Campolina, Chief Executive of ActionAid International (AAI), brought together a diverse youth audience consisting of adolescents, ethnic and religious minorities, urban slum dwellers, leaders of youth clubs and foundations, former Child Sponsorship programme participants, as well as, those in tertiary levels of education. The candid discussion was around key priorities for youth such as decent jobs, migration, harassment, climate change, disaster preparedness and management and building networks.

When organisations talk of change, and restructure, there is tension in the air – the unknown always leaves staff with a sense of nervousness about the future, these unknowns can be rightly placed as people jobs are put at risk – or the ones whom they care about.

Nilupher Begum was going to Chadpur from Dhaka. After living 5 years in the Capital City, she left the city for economic crisis as the price of shelter, food, health and education facility are higher than the village. Everyone comes to Dhaka for better income and livelihood, but Nilupher had to go her native home.

Shahjahan Selim does not have a dream. So easy to put that in a tiny sentence. Selim does not have the life he had before Rana Plaza. He is not physically fit like before. His left leg and left hand is paralysed. Was this supposed to happen? Selim got minor injuries but his life was spared. However, he couldn’t evade the numerous souls trapped under concrete and rubble. Selim rushed to save 37 people alive. However, he then fell into a crack and got severely injured. His waist and left leg were broken.

14 March 2016 was a more eventful day than other days. There was a festive atmosphere in the office. From the morning, candidates of Feminist Leadership Forum (FLF) were conducting their campaign for the new convener position. After successful campaign, election formality started at 3 pm. The former convener handed over the responsibility to the newly elected convener.

This is all happening in the backdrop of a concern that human rights may be at stake in the text of the agreement. Initiated by Norway and joined by other developed countries, a group had showed reluctance to have ‘human rights’ in the operative section of the agreement. What does it mean for gender equity, inclusiveness, inequality, climate induced displacement? When we are discussing the economic and non –economic, social cultural losses of impacted communities from the vulnerable countries and trying to push for action on the already existing agreements in this relation, it is most unwarranted.