The inaugural session of the three-day conference, organised by Bangladesh Chapter of South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT), was held at CIRDAP auditorium in the city.

Hundreds of gender activists from South Asia gathered at the conference.

Launched in 1998, SANGAT worked to evolve a south asian feminist perspective on issues related to gender, peace and development and develop strategies to institutionalise gender concerns within all development organisations.

Kamla Bhasin, noted Indian human rights activist and ANGAT South Asian-level co-ordinator, and Fawzia Khandaker, Bangladesh chapter's co-ordinator, delivered the welcome speech after the conference began with Lalon songs by noted singer Farida Parvin.

Speaking on 'Link between globalisation, conflict and gender' at the first session, Amena Mohsin of international relations department of Dhaka University said pro-rich and pro-market globalisation policy utilises different states as its machinery to execute its agendas which are turning riches richer and poor poorer day by day.

"Identifying women as reproductive agent, the state which itself is male-dominated, has set a reproduction code marginalising them in all affairs," she said adding that women are not welcomed to share power.

Perceiving globalisation as a systemic phenomena affecting different countries' politics, economy and administration, Meghna Guhathakurata of the same department, said women are undermined and poorly paid in a globalised world which runs by capitalist forces.

Dina Siddiqi, a researcher, pointed out that job security for women went down for globalisation, which ultimately contributed to increased sexual and mental harassment.

"Women have to work on meagre salary due to decrease in job opportunity resulting from privatisation under the pressure of globalisation" ,she added.

Jahirul Haque, deputy chief of the children and women affairs ministry, also addressed the session moderated by Kamla Bhasin.

Speaking in another session on 'Relationship between Rights, Democracy and Gender', Prof Dalim Chandra Borman of DU said gender equity is a precondition to democracy.

Ayesha Khanom, a women activist, expressed grave concern at the rise of fundamentalism and revival of dorra system at different parts of the country.

Indian human rights activist Jaya Mitra spoke about her experiences on gender discrimination.

The session was moderated by Hamida Hossain.