Dr. Shahida Akhter

an educator, researcher, social worker , documentary filmmaker and Global Goodwill Ambassador. Above all, I am a humanitarian and a change maker. My commitment to humanitarian activities started in the 1990s when I worked for UN Peacekeeping Mission in conflict-affected Cambodia. My goal is to change the conditon of the disadvantaged communities through education, women empowerment and raising voice for their causes by advocacy, writing and documentaries.

I completed Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Master of Arts in Humanities and social science from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Then I obtained my PhD in Comparative Literature from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India as a Scholar of ICCR. At the same time, I learned French language and got a certificate.

My career started with teaching in college and university. Later on, I have worked with a number of national and international organizations in various capacities in the areas of administration, project management, monitoring & evaluation, curriculum design, writing modules and books, strategic planning, report writing and more.

In the last 12 years, I have been working for humanitarian causes particularly, for the children, girls and women of the remote places of Bangladesh to ensure quality education to the underprivileged and special needs children, to create employment opportunities for poor girls and women of remote villages, to uphold their rights, stop gender-based violence, stop child marriage, protection of children from any kind of abuse or exploitation, ensure food security, safe food, safe water, good health and sanitation to achieve the goals of SDGs. My works also include public health and environment, climate change impact, saving our water, rivers and forests. I have been associated with a number of national and international organizations for research, writing, campaign for human rights, democracy, freedom of speech and other issues against humanity. These are: The Asiatic Socitey of Bangladesh, Bangla Academy, Amnesty International, CIVICUS World Alliance, One.org, Women’s Voices Now, Republic of Women etc. For more details please visit my LinkedIn profile and the documentary and videos on Youtube.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shahida-akhter-60309727/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.shahida3132/videos

Twitter: https://x.com/shahidabd9

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahida.rubin/

Photos of professional activities

Here are some photos of my professional activities at different times with various organizations.

Education and Women Empowerment Project

Initially, my work was based on awareness rasing through publication of education materials and distribute those throughout Bangladesh supported by the international organizations like Save the Children USA, UNICEF Bangladesh, CARITUS, World Vision, a number of national NGOs including BRAC, BWHC, and the Primary & Mass Education Directorate of the government. From 2013, I started setting up schools and women development centers at grassroot level. I gave priority to those areas where there was no government or NGOs schools, and the children were deprived of getting access to education. I also prefered to help the special needs children, youth and adults. Poor village girls and women are the most disadvantaged group in the communities, and they become victims of violence and exploitation in many ways. That’s why I took initiative to create income generating activities for them, make them self-dependent and help them come out of poverty and hunger. In the last 12 years, many children, girls, women and families have been benefited with my support.