The 3rd International Women Parliament & Iconic Women Award 2026 concluded in Dhaka on 30 October, bringing together women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, professionals and changemakers from Bangladesh and around the world for an evening focused on leadership, inclusion, economic participation and women’s empowerment.
Held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka, the international gathering was organised by Arena for Global Engagement Limited (AGE) in association with the International Women Parliament and Project 100. The programme ran from 3:00pm to 9:00pm and combined leadership dialogues, presentations, recognition of women achievers, cultural elements and a gala dinner.
The central theme of the 2026 edition was “Of the Women, By the Women, For the Women,” built around the broader vision “Grassroots to Global: Women’s Ecosystem.” The theme sought to connect women’s leadership and opportunities at community level with wider national and international networks, policy discussions and economic platforms.
The event’s emphasis on a women-centred ecosystem was reflected in the diversity of participants. Bangladesh Women Investors Network (BWIN), a community partner, said the gathering brought together women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and changemakers from Bangladesh and beyond. BWIN President Aminah Alavee Hossain also participated in a leadership dialogue on “Social Respect & Justice: The Public Sphere,” highlighting the importance of women’s access to capital and greater participation in investment.
A major highlight of the evening was the Iconic Women Award 2026, which recognised women for achievements and leadership across a wide range of fields.
The award programme covers diverse areas including corporate and professional excellence, academic and research leadership, entrepreneurship, grassroots development, social work and humanitarian impact, policy and law, media and journalism, environmental sustainability, sports, health and medicine, arts and culture, technology, hospitality and other areas of leadership.
Among the recognised women was Prof. Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum, Founder and Executive Director of TMSS, who received the Iconic Women Award 2026 for her longstanding contribution to women’s empowerment and social development. As she could not attend the ceremony, the award was received on her behalf by Dr. Fatema Khatun Rima, her personal secretary and a TMSS director.
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Another post-event report highlighted Nazratun Nayeem, who received a Certificate of Recognition for her contribution to Culinary Arts and Hospitality. The report said the gathering included delegates from 40 countries, underscoring the international character of the Dhaka edition.
The choice of Dhaka as the host city gave the 2026 edition particular significance. The International Women Parliament has previously held major gatherings in New Delhi in 2023 and Dubai in 2025, making the Bangladesh edition part of a continuing international platform connecting women leaders across borders.
The International Women Parliament describes itself as a platform working to advance gender equality and women’s participation across different spheres, while connecting policymakers and grassroots communities. Its stated motto is “Of the Women, By the Women, For the Women.”
The event’s media and community partnerships included organisations from Bangladesh’s business, media, investment and development ecosystems. Jamuna Television, The Business Standard, Canvas and Fashion Business Journal among the media partners, while Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) was as a knowledge partner. Joyeeta Foundation, Bangladesh Women Investors Network and JAAGO Foundation were among the community partners.
While the Iconic Women Award provided the evening’s most visible recognition, the broader significance of the gathering lay in its attempt to create connections between leadership, policy, entrepreneurship, investment and social impact.
For Bangladesh, hosting an international platform of this nature also places Dhaka within a wider conversation on women’s leadership and cross-border collaboration.
The message emerging from the event was therefore broader than recognition alone: women’s empowerment requires an ecosystem in which women can lead, access capital, participate in decision-making, build enterprises, influence policy and connect with opportunities beyond their immediate communities.
As the 3rd International Women Parliament and Iconic Women Award 2026 concluded in Dhaka, the organisers and participants left with a shared ambition captured by the event’s central vision: From Grassroots to Global — building a stronger ecosystem for women, by connecting voices, leadership and opportunity across borders.