On Navember o4, As part of the Girls Takeover 2024 initiative, 15-year-old Tabassum Mashia Tama, a tenth-grade science student at Banshree Shiksha Niketan in Munshiganj Union, Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira, assumed symbolic duties as Upazila Family Planning Officer for an hour. The event took place on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Shyamnagar Upazila Family Planning Office, organized by Parittran and the National Children’s Task Force (NCTF) Shyamnagar Upazila branch with support from Plan International Bangladesh.

Official approval was granted through a declaration signed by Upazila Family Planning Officer Sakir Hossain. During her tenure, Tabassum Mashia Tama expressed her aspirations, saying, “As a young girl, I represent all adolescents, and I dream of one day holding such a position.”

In her brief role, Tabassum emphasized increasing health services for adolescents through the Upazila Family Planning Office. She advocated for expanded reproductive health campaigns, provision of essential resources like TT vaccines, iron tablets, hygienic kits for young girls, and actively addressing early marriage prevention. She highlighted the need for accessible family planning services tailored to the needs of adolescents.

Upazila Family Planning Officer Shakir Hossain praised the initiative, stating that the Department of Family Planning continues to work tirelessly to bring healthcare services to the community. He emphasized the department’s dedication to providing specialized services for adolescents, supporting early marriage prevention, and strengthening outreach. He added that programs like Girls Takeover inspire young girls to build self-confidence and envision a better future.

Tabassum Mashia Tama, who lives in Kochukhali village in Munshiganj Union and serves as the Organizational Secretary of NCTF Shyamnagar Upazila, is the eldest of two sisters. Her father, Md. Mizanur Rahman, shared his pride, expressing that he had never imagined his daughter would have the chance to symbolically serve as the Upazila Family Planning Officer.

The event concluded at 12:00 p.m. with the official handover of duties, marking the end of the Girls Takeover 2024. Attendees included Shyamnagar Press Club journalist Abu Sayeed, Dalit NGO Field Organizer Ratikanta Munda, reporter Jamal Badsha, Parittran Project Officer Noyon Kumar Gain, and several officials and staff members from the Upazila Family Planning Office.

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Photo: Upazila Family Planning Officer Shakir Hossain hands over the declaration to Tabassum Mashia Tama for her symbolic role as Upazila Family Planning Officer for an hour.