Zonta District 25 inaugurated its 18th Biennial District Conference on Friday evening at The Westin, Gulshan, with Governor Ztn. Dr. Zareen Delawar and members of the Zonta Clubs of Bangladesh welcoming delegates under Zonta’s banner of “Building a Better World for Women & Girls.”
Chief Guest Dr. Hussain Zillur Rahman, Chairman of BRAC and Executive Chairman of PPRC, opened the ceremony by commending Zonta’s long record of service and urging stronger, measurable commitments to women’s economic empowerment and safety. He underlined the importance of cross-sector partnerships—linking philanthropy, policy, and the private sector—to accelerate impact.
Zonta International & Foundation Board Director and Liaison for District 25 Phillippa Jacobs Lory lauded the district’s grassroots leadership and affirmed the global organisation’s support for projects advancing health, education, and leadership opportunities for women and girls. H.E. Lulzim Pllana, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo, congratulated the hosts and highlighted the potential of women-led initiatives to deepen cultural and economic ties between nations.
Fashion icon and social entrepreneur Bibi Russell was recognised with Zonta District 25’s Inspirational Award, a tribute to her decades of advocacy for heritage crafts and dignified livelihoods for artisans. In her remarks, she thanked Zonta for championing craftswomen and spotlighting creative industries as engines of inclusion.
The ceremony also noted the presence of Alisha Pradhan, Founder & CEO of HerNet TV and General Secretary of the HerNet Foundation, as a distinguished guest. Pradhan praised Zonta’s district leadership for “keeping women and girls at the centre of development conversations” and emphasised the role of media in scaling proven solutions.
HerNet TV covered the event, capturing the arrivals, the award moment, and interviews with speakers and club leaders about upcoming service projects across Bangladesh. Governor Delawar closed the inaugural by calling on clubs to translate the conference’s deliberations into district-wide action plans, citing priorities in health, education, prevention of gender-based violence, and leadership development.
The conference gathered Zonta members, diplomats, development leaders, and friends of the district for an evening that blended recognition with a forward-looking agenda—setting the tone for sessions that aim to convert advocacy into tangible gains for women and girls across the region.