Today’s Athena

As part of International Women's Day, BRAC University Natural Sciences Club (BUNSC) arranged an event, styled 'Today's Athena,' at BRAC University's Mohakhali campus. The name was inspired by Athena, the Greek Goddess of warfare, courage and wisdom. The programme was divided into two phases — a self-defence workshop, followed by a very interactive talk session.

The workshop was conducted by renowned trainer, Shamima Akhtar Tulee, owner and chief consultant of 'Combat Gym by Tulee.' The list of her achievements is impressive,— she is a regular health columnist of the 'Daily Observer,' a four-time National Karate Champion, the first woman in Bangladesh to hold the Shotokan Karate black belt, and has served as referee at various international karate championship matches, to name just a few.

The workshop, which was open to all students, faculty and staff of BRACU, both male and female, was very effective. The trainer taught the participants some very basic, easy, yet crucial self-defence techniques and moves, that can be used to take down any perpetrator. Participants were taught about some of the weak points of all human beings, where hitting will surely weaken the perpetrator, and will give the victim enough time to make a run for it.

Just as knowing how to defend oneself is important, being aware of one's rights and being able to fight for them is equally important. Keeping this in mind, a talk session was arranged, with the same agenda as the theme of International Women's Day this year — 'An equal world is an enabled world.'

Famous Canadian researcher, scientist, philosopher and artist, Erik Zepka, was one of the speakers, along with some of the most distinguished faculties of the university. They shared their insights on how women's rights are nothing but basic human rights, the different ways women are still being deprived of their rights, and also, how to stand up and fight for one's rights.