



The Inception Meeting of the Space to Lead Project was held on January 19, 2026, at the conference room of the Nageshwari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in Kurigram. The project is funded by the Swedish Government and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and is implemented under the technical supervision of Plan International Bangladesh.
The UNO of Nageshwari, Ms. Sharmin Jahan Luna, attended the meeting as the Chief Guest and assured full cooperation from the Upazila Administration to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Shirin Akter Asha, Executive Director of Asmani Foundation. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Upazila Administration, local government institutions, political leaders, partner organizations, media professionals, and other key stakeholders, including Shaheen Shahid, President of the Nageshwari Upazila Press Club.
A detailed presentation highlighted the organizational background, project goal and objectives, working areas, budget, implementation plan, and strategies. The presentation was jointly delivered by Md. Humayun Kabir (Director – Program, Aparajeyo-Bangladesh), Md. Firoz Ahmed (Project Coordinator, PHD), Kamruzzaman Shawon (IT & Communication, Asmani Foundation), and Md. Shariful Islam (Accounts Manager, Aparajeyo-Bangladesh).
During the open discussion, participants emphasized that the project aims to strengthen leadership capacity among adolescents and youth, ensure their meaningful participation in decision-making processes, and promote a safe, inclusive, and rights-based social environment.
The Space to Lead Project is being implemented jointly by Asmani Foundation, Partners in Health and Development (PHD), and Aparajeyo-Bangladesh in six selected unions of Nageshwari and Bhurungamari upazilas of Kurigram district. Participants appreciated the initiative and shared constructive feedback to support effective implementation.