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International Men’s Day today

The International Men’s Day marks the celebration of boys’ and men’s achievements and their contributions to their nation, union, society, community and family. The day is observed every year on November 19 to recognize and celebrate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic accomplishments of men.

Many may have never heard of a day called “Men’s Day” because the day is not celebrated with various arrangements like Women’s Day. The day comes very quietly.

The theme for International Men’s Day 2021 is ‘Better relations between men and women’.

International Men’s Day celebrates the positive value men bring to our world, their families and communities. One of the six pillars of International Men’s Day is to improve gender relations and promote gender equality not only for men but for women too.

An organization called ‘Aid for Men Foundation’ has organized a rally and seminar in Bangladesh on the occasion of International Men’s Day on November 19 (Friday).

International Men's Day today

Saiful Islam Nadeem, general secretary of the organization, told that they have taken various initiatives to celebrate the day in Bangladesh along with the rest of the world. The day is in recognition of the positive role that men continue to play in the family, society and the world. This day reminds us of the great men who have sacrificed their lives to build this human civilization through the ages. This day is playing a helpful role in raising awareness for the welfare of men. One of the six main themes of Men’s Day is ‘Improving the relationship between men and women and ensuring gender equality for both men and women.’

To this end, the theme of the 2021 Men’s Day is ‘Development of Gender Relationships for Men and Women’.

Like every year, the Aid for Men Foundation has undertaken various programs to celebrate the day in Bangladesh with due dignity and solemnity.

 November 19 Program-

1) Happy inauguration of the day by gathering balloons in front of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity at 9:30 am in the capital’s Segunbagicha.

2) A colorful rally in front of the Reporters’ Unity at 10:30 am.

3) Discussion program at Sagar-Runi auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity after the rally at 11:30 am. Where journalists, intellectuals, lawyers and people from different walks of life will be present.

4) Announcing the end of the program through the speech of the President at 1 pm.

In 1968, an American journalist named John P. Harris wrote an editorial highlighting a lack of balance in the Soviet system, which promoted an International Women’s Day for female workers but failed to deliver a male counterpart. Harris stated that though he agreed there should be a day to celebrate women, the day served as flaw within the communist system.

In the early 1990s Thomas Oaster, the director of the Missouri Center for Men’s Studies, invited organizations in the U.S., Australia, and Malta to hold small International Men’s Day events during the month of February. Oaster successfully hosted these events for two years, but his 1995 attempt was poorly attended. Discouraged, he ceased plans to continue the function. Australia followed suit, making Malta the sole country to continue celebrating.

In 1999 Trinidad and Tobago, the day was revived by Jerome Teelucksingh from the University of the West Indies. He realized that even though there was a day for fathers, there was no day to celebrate men who didn’t have kids, or who were young boys and teenagers. Teelucksingh understood the importance of positive male role models, as his father had been an excellent example for him, and chose to celebrate International Men’s Day on November 19 — the day of his father’s birthday as well as the day a local soccer team had united his country with their endeavors to qualify for the world cup.

Since Teelucksingh’s revival, International Men’s Day has served to promote positive aspects of male identity based on the premise that men respond more constructively to positive role models than to negative gender stereotyping. The day is not intended to compete with International Women’s Day, but to highlight the importance of men’s physical and mental health and positive masculinity.

The day is celebrated in more than 70 countries around the world every year. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, China, Canada, India, Pakistan, Croatia, Jamaica, Cuba, Scotland, Singapore, Malta, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Ukraine, etc. However, the day is celebrated on a small scale in Bangladesh.

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