Dr. Shahida Akhter

In April 2018, Shahida Akhter has been recognized as Global Goodwill Ambassador for her contribution to underprivileged children and women of Bangladesh.

Highlights of the activities of Dr. Shahida Akhter. 

Dr. Shahida Akhter is a humanitarian and an educationist, researcher, social worker, documentary filmmaker. She has wide experience in the areas of education, particularly, development-oriented education. She started her career with teaching. Gradually, she gained experience in administrative and academic works, organizational management, training, advocacy and awareness raising campaign, human rights, child rights, folklore & cultural heritage, women development, public health & environment.

Shahida Akhter worked with the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh, UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cambodia, Bangla Academy, Campaign for Popular Education-CAMPE, UNICEF, Save the Children, Bangladesh Open University, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, and other national and international organizations in various capacities. In the academic area, she has been associated with the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh from 1998, worked for BANGLAPEDIA, the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh as a contributor, language editor and translator (www.banglapedia.org). She also worked for two other projects of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh – Cultural Survey of Bangladesh & Four Hundred Years of Capital Dhaka. She worked with Bangla Academy in various research projects, was a Senior Fellow of Ford Foundation in 1993-94, worked on Folklore & Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh.

Apart from academic works, Shahida Akhter is a UN Volunteer, social worker & documentary filmmaker. She has been associated with voluntary & humanitarian activities for about 25 years. She served the UNV Advocacy Committee, UNDP Bangladesh in 2009-10 as the Chairperson, worked closely with the govt., UN bodies, national, international voluntary organizations to promote volunteerism. As a part of advocacy & spreading awareness on social-humanitarian issues, she makes documentary films. 

As a consultant, Shahida Akhter worked with UNICEF Dhaka & Directorate of Non-Formal Education for producing education materials & designing curriculum for different education programs including Hard to Reach Children Program – a joint project of UNICEF, GOB & ILO. She also worked with a Drug-addicts Prevention, Cure, Care and Research Centre – Mukti Lawrence Foundation in the field of Drug Abuse Prevention Program [1988-1995], did research on drug abuse. Her book was published in 1991 by the Directorate of Youth Development, Ministry of Youth & Sports. She was associated with the Bangladesh Open University as a Curriculum Specialist, Module Writer & Teacher of Distance Learning from 1993-1998.

Shahida Akhter is a visionary humanist. She is working with the mission and vision to help the less privileged section of the society, to support them for getting access to education, health-care and employment opportunities, particularly the children and women. Through her publications & documentaries, she wants to spread awareness on education, human rights, social justice, ending poverty, and promoting health & environmental issues. 

In April 2018, Shahida Akhter has been recognized as Global Goodwill Ambassador [GGA] for her contribution to underprivileged children and women of Bangladesh. 

In March 2021, Shahida Akhter became winner in the #100Women #IWD2021 Global Contest among the women leaders of 120 UN countries. She received Princess of Humanity Global Awards for Women Empowerment and Beauty of SDG-IV Global Goals Awards for Quality Education. 

PRINCESS OF HUMANITY GLOBAL AWARDS Bangladesh DR. SHAHIDA AKHTER. Excellence in Women empowerment

At present, Shahida Akhter is implementing 3 projects on education & ICT for underprivileged children & youth, women development, health & environment to meet the goals of SDGs 1, 3, 4, 6, 8. Currently, she is the President, Action for Humanity & Social Progress, Founder Chairperson & Managing Trustee, Lekhapara Trust and Owner, Gravity Design & Media.   Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/humanityandsocialprogress

https://www.facebook.com/lekhapara.education

https://www.facebook.com/koltapara.school

https://www.facebook.com/GravityDM

https://www.facebook.com/shahida.akhter.unv

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shahida-akhter-60309727/

Twitter: @shahidabd9

Shahida Akhter wrote and published a number books and articles, education materials for children and mass-people. Some of her books are included in the syllabus of the universities as reference. Her education materials for children and mass people has been used by the NGOs, UNICEF and the Government of Bangladesh in their education programs. For her contribution to Non-Formal Education, she won a National Award in 1997. One of the education materials edited and published by Shahida Akhter is monthly Lekhapara. The magazine published for children, adolescents, neo-literate masses contains articles & news on education, culture, literature, history, law, child rights, gender issues, agriculture, health, environment, science & invention, current news etc.