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Bangladeshi student Runa, became the Swedish ambassador for a day

Runa, a Bangladeshi student, a youth activist  became the ambassador of the Swedish embassy for one day.

On Monday, on the occasion of International Girl Child Day, the Swedish Embassy appointed Runa as a one-day symbolic ambassador to create awareness about equal opportunities and rights for girl children.

As well as ensuring the rights of women and children, she also worked as a member of a community volunteer group to prevent child marriage.

Bangladeshi student Runa, became the Swedish ambassador for a day
Runa talks to Sweden Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde and others at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka on October 11, 2021

As part of Plan International’s worldwide ‘Girls Takeover’ program, she was appointed a symbolic ambassador for one day.

After spending the day in the role of Swedish ambassador, Runa called for girls at all levels in the country to be provided with equal rights and opportunities.

Bangladeshi student Runa, became the Swedish ambassador for a day

Plan organised 70 such takeovers in Bangladesh this month, empowering girls from different corners of the country to symbolically receive the responsibility of key political, economic and diplomatic positions for a day.

“Performing the duties of an ambassador today has inspired me to achieve leadership skills,” Runa said.

Bangladeshi student Runa, became the Swedish ambassador for a day
Youth activist Runa with Swedish Ambassador of Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka on Monday, October 11, 2021 Facebook/Embassy of Sweden

“I will be able to encourage the empowerment of other girls like me, create opportunities for them, and more importantly, work to ensure technological literacy in line with this year’s theme.”

“In most cases, the girls in our community find it difficult to grasp their skills and how far they can reach through developing them. They, too, can rise to leadership and bring changes to the society.”

Bangladeshi student Runa, became the Swedish ambassador for a day

As a member of the youth community, Runa also works on children’s education, ensuring adolescent girls’ rights and preventing child marriage.

The Swedish Embassy took part in this Girls Takeover event following Sweden’s Feminist Foreign Policy which aims to promote gender equality and the rights of all women and girls.

Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde said: “On the International Day of the Girl Child we celebrate the power and potential of girls – in challenging stereotypes, breaking gender barriers, and demanding change.”

Calling for focus on existing challenges, she said, “Girls are often the first victims when human rights are violated – in real life and online. They suffer double discrimination, for their age and their gender.

“To cede the Ambassador’s position for a day to a girl is one way of manifesting the need for girls’ voices to be heard. Today – and every day,” she added.

Plan International said this year, they are working around the theme of ‘Girls Get Equal Freedom Online’ – Misinformation and Disinformation girls and young women face in the digital world.

Runa is a member of a young team. Where she works with adolescents to educate children and create awareness against women’s rights and child marriage.

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