Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem has been awarded the "Woman of the Decade in Public Life and Diplomacy 2021" by the Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (WICCI).

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem. Photo: Courtesy

The award was virtually handed over to High Commissioner Tasneem by Education Minister of Bangladesh Dr Dipu Moni at the closing session of the two-day Women Entreprenurs' Summit 2021 organised virtually by the Bangladesh-India Business Council of Women's Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BIBC-WICCI) yesterday. 

Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni were also recipients of the WICCI Award for 2021 in different categories.

On receiving the award, Tasneem dedicated it to Bangladesh's grassroots women who struggle everyday as farmers, fisherwomen, garment and construction workers, domestic help or migrant workers.

She paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for championing women in politics, for his humanitarian support to rehabilitate the war heroines and war babies from the Liberation War of 1971, and for Article 28 of the Constitution guaranteeing equal rights to women, and also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for triggering a social revolution to empower women in Bangladesh.

The prestigious WICCI Award recognises pioneers, leaders and role models in their respective entrepreneurial and professional spheres.

Chaired by Dr Dipu Moni, the closing session of the summit was also participated by Cherie Blair, chancellor of Asian University Bangladesh; Ambassador for Japan to Bangladesh Naoki Ito; UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Mia Seppo; WICCI Founder President Dr Harbeen Arora and President of BIBC WICCI Mantasha Ahmed.