Two Bangladeshi women have been rewarded for their dedicated work in the service of others on International Women's Day 2006. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with the Bangladeshi Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), made presentations of 10,000 Taka each to two recipients as a token of thanks for their long and valued service to others.

The choice of the two 2006 recipients for Women's Day awards was not an easy one because there are so many dedicated and loyal women in Bangladesh who are working in the service of humanity. Two very special recipients were chosen this year: Sabina Hossain Chowdhury who is the Youth Chief at the Red Crescent Society; and Dilara Begum Dewan who is the principal at the B.A. Siddiky Red Crescent Nursing Institute. Others, equally deserving, will be recognised in the years ahead.

In this feature we profile three Bangladeshi women. These women are not selected because they are high profile members of society whose actions are highly visible to us; but rather because they deserve to be known in their community after years of doing what many women doworking quietly in the service of family, community and the nation in order to ease the hardship or suffering of others. Little-by-little these special women make Bangladesh a better and happier place to live, and they are fine examples of the Red Cross and Red Crescent spirit.

Sabina--the volunteer youth leader
Many people work long hours for not very much pay, but there are not so many people who are willing to work long hours, week in and week out, for no pay at all! The volunteers of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, the premier humanitarian organisation of Bangladesh, do exactly that. In times of natural disasters the volunteers of the BDRCS are amongst the first to step in to assist victimsand the effectiveness of the support that the Red Crescent Society provides depends directly on the quality, commitment and training of volunteers.

Sabina Hossain Chowdhury is only in her early 20s but already she is a veteran with more than 12 years in the ranks of the BDRCS volunteers. Like many of her colleagues she was introduced to the Red Crescent youth through her school, and spent time learning critical skills such as first aid, and doing traditional Red Crescent Society work such as providing relief to the needy.

After continuing her commitment to the Red Crescent beyond university, Sabina was elected as the Youth Chief, and she now spends up to 50 hours each week in unpaid voluntary service overseeing the training and humanitarian activities of Red Crescent youth volunteers.

Sabina is recognised on this International Women's Day as one of two women to receive annual achievement awards from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. The award recognises Sabina's voluntary service to the people of Bangladesh, through her work as Youth Chief with the Red Crescent Society.

From trainee to trainer--decades of service to nursing
In 1953 the Holy Family hospital was established and in 1957 it opened its doors for the first intake of trainee nurses. In 1978 young Dilara Begum Dewan commenced her nursing training at the hospitaland an almost three decade association commenced, during which time Dilara made the long journey from Trainee Nurse to Principal of the prestigious B.A. Siddiky Nursing Institute.

Dilara has not stopped learning despite reaching the top of her profession at the Institute. She is completing a part time Masters in Public Health. In response to being asked what might be improved for her profession she reiterates that "nursing is a respected profession in Bangladesh but the opportunities for professional development throughout a career in nursing are unfortunately quite limited. More needs to be done to attract and develop talented students who are willing to make a long career of nursing."

Dilara is recognised on this International Women's Day as one of two women to receive annual achievement awards from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. The award recognises Dilara's long and dedicated service to the people of Bangladesh, through her work as a nursing trainer at the B.A. Siddiky Red Crescent Nursing Institute.

Three decades of keeping families in touch
There is not so much public exposure in our community for those that work quietly in the service of others. Despite doing the same difficult and at times frustrating humanitarian work for over 30 years, Monowara Sarker and her "tracing" team at the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) remain dedicated and enthusiastic about her work which involves finding family members who are reported "missing" as a result of conflicts or natural disasters, or helping those who are separated to keep in touch.

"I started working as a Tracing Assistant with the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1971 when, at the time of liberation, there were a large number of people displaced; and from 1976 I continued this work with the Red Crescent Society," the softly spoken Monowar explains.

The work of the Tracing Department includes attempting to find Bangladeshi people who are missing as a result of conflicts around the globe, and keeping families in touch by passing Red Cross messages when they are separatedsometimes as a result of being detained in foreign countries.

Asked what makes her work interesting and satisfying Monowara says that: "We deal with a wide variety of problems including tracing missing family members overseas, helping to identify the remains of those killed in disasters such as ferry sinkings, and maintaining family contact with detainees, such as the two Bangladeshis still held at the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay."

Monowara believes that she has been well rewarded for her humanitarian work in the service of others: she met and later married her husband as a result of him being one of her tracing "clients" back in 1971.

In a world so full of turmoil and displacement it is likely that Monowar's work 'Tracing the Missing' will never be finishedbut her dedication and endurance are an inspiration to others as she and her colleagues ensure that families are able to know the fate of their loved onesand if possible to keep in touch with them.

Mike O'Brien is the ICRC Communication Coordinator for South Asia.