A seminar titled “Empowering Women Through Reproductive Healthcare” was organized by AIUB’s Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and the AIUB Women Forum in collaboration with Marie Stopes Bangladesh (MSB) on November 5, at the Media Studio (Annex 2). The initiative aimed to promote awareness among female students about vital reproductive health issues and to encourage open dialogue on topics often considered sensitive in society. The seminar was supported by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), AIUB.

The session began with an inspiring opening speech by Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, Honorable Vice Chancellor of AIUB, who emphasized the importance of creating an informed, confident, and health-conscious generation of young women. He highlighted AIUB’s ongoing commitment to providing platforms that empower students through education and open discussion.

Dr. Sumona Ferdous, General Manager of Clinical Quality Assurance & Management at Marie Stopes Bangladesh, delivered an insightful presentation on key reproductive health topics such as cervical cancer prevention, sexually transmissible infections (STIs), PCOS, and the importance of nutrition and regular health checkups. Following her, Dr. Surayea Bulbul, Consultant at Marie Stopes Maternity Clinic, Dhanmondi, spoke about menstruation and menstrual hygiene, focusing on debunking myths and promoting healthy, informed practices.

The seminar offered a highly interactive learning environment. During the question-and-answer segment, students actively participated and felt encouraged to speak freely. Many broke long-held social taboos by raising personal health queries, demonstrating the significance of creating confidential and supportive platforms where women can discuss their wellbeing without hesitation or judgement.

The event drew an all-female audience, ensuring a comfortable and relatable atmosphere. Participants expressed that the session was timely, informative, and deeply needed, as it addressed areas of women’s health that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Light refreshments for participants were graciously sponsored by ACI.

AIUB is also pleased to share that discussions are underway to establish a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Marie Stopes Bangladesh. Under this initiative, AIUB students and staff will have access to selected reproductive healthcare services at discounted rates, further strengthening the university’s commitment to student wellbeing.

At the conclusion of the seminar, tokens of appreciation were exchanged with the resource persons. The success of the program was made possible through the dedicated efforts and cooperation of the AIUB management and administrative staff, whose support ensured the smooth and meaningful execution of this important event.