Abida Islam Wins Diplomacy Award for Women's Rights

Her Excellency Abida Islam, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, has been presented with the prestigious 'Women in Diplomacy' award. The honour, conferred by the 'Women in Diplomacy Secretariat,' a special forum for female diplomats working in various embassies in London, recognizes the professionalism and significant contributions of women in the diplomatic field.

The award was presented to High Commissioner Islam at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Mexico in London on Tuesday evening. Josefa Gonzalez Blanco Ortiz Mena, the Mexican Ambassador to the UK and current President of the 'Women in Diplomacy Network,' presented the accolade.

High Commissioner Abida Islam received the award in the highly esteemed category of 'Champion for Women's Rights and Gender Equality.' This recognition highlights her dedicated work in ensuring women's rights and equality through her diplomatic efforts and professional engagements, with her commitment clearly reflected in her work.

Throughout her distinguished career, including her tenures as Ambassador to South Korea and Mexico, and subsequently as High Commissioner to the UK, Abida Islam has consistently prioritized gender equality within the Bangladesh Embassy and the wider Bangladeshi community. Her proactive approach has been instrumental in promoting these critical issues.

The event saw the participation of approximately 50 female diplomats from various embassies, underscoring the importance of the 'Women in Diplomacy Network,' which was established to foster greater participation of women in diplomacy and to build a robust professional network among them.

Abida Islam joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in November 1995, as part of the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service. She has served in various international relations departments under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, bringing extensive experience to her current role and her impactful advocacy for gender equality.