The 'Pink Man' Of Bangladesh, Dr Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, And His Battle Against Female Cancers
New Age Islam News Bureau
03 July 2025
· The 'Pink Man' Of Bangladesh, Dr Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, And His Battle Against Female Cancers
· Shahla Mohammadi: "Women Of E. Kurdistan, Iran Will Unite, Topple Authoritarian Regimes"
· Baluch Women Stand Tall Against Regime Brutality In Southeastern Gunich Village
· “Muslim Woman Allegedly Assaulted, Stomped On In Oshawa: Council Of Canadian Muslims Says ‘Appalled And Disgusted’
· AfDB Extends Facility For Mauritanian SMEs and Women-Led Businesses
· Engineering College Principal Threatened Over `Ban’ On Hijab; Case Registered
· Punjab Aims For Plastic-Free Future, Says CM Maryam Nawaz
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pink-man-bangladesh-female-cancers/d/136066
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The 'Pink Man' Of Bangladesh, Dr Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, And His Battle Against Female Cancers
2 July 2025
Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, Pink Man of Bangladesh. Credit: Mohammad Al Amin
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Dhaka physician Dr Habibullah Talukder Ruskin has earned an unusual moniker: he’s known as the “Pink Man of Bangladesh”.
The nickname – ceremonially conferred upon him by the World Cancer Society of Bangladesh in October 2024 – is a hat-tip to his three-decade long fight against breast and cervical cancer, diseases which account for almost a third of all cancers diagnosed in Bangladeshi women.
“People are suffering. How can I help?”
Dr Ruskin currently serves as a professor and project coordinator at Gonoshasthaya Community-Based Cancer Hospital, having previously worked as the head of the department of cancer epidemiology at the government-run National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital (NCRIH), which he first joined in 1993.
“At first I was assigned to provide service in the breast cancer unit of the hospital,” Dr Ruskin told VaccinesWork. “During that time, we were struggling with lack of adequate facilities there to provide the proper treatment. Then I thought -- how I can work to prevent the cancer disease? People were suffering due to lack of treatment.”
Since October 2023, the cervical cancer-blocking human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been publicly available to girls aged 10 to 14, with an impressive 5.6 million of that cohort reached during the introductory campaign. But vaccinating against cancer was not an option for older generations, for whom screening and early detection were the only avenues of prevention available. And those important tools, Dr Ruskin found, were not being deployed nearly regularly enough.
The young doctor made sure he completed all specialised education on preventive care, and then got to work convincing the government health authorities to start building awareness of cancer control in the community. That work broadened his experience of his native country, he says: “At one stage, being assigned by the government, I led a programme of the World Health Organization to build awareness among community leaders, and visited 30 districts to this end in 2002,” he said.
That year, Ruskin decided more needed to be done, and he established a non-profit organisation called the Bangladesh Cancer Foundation (BCF). BCF’s mandate was to carry out screening for cancers and pre-cancers, and to carry on spreading awareness to the at-risk members of the population. Catching cancers early, he knew, would make it more likely that treatment would prove effective, reducing the high mortality rate among affected women.
“The foundation started to observe Breast Cancer Service Week, to provide services to the breast cancer patients in a particular week, for the first time in Bangladesh, the same year.
“The BCF provided clinical breast examination, consultation and counselling services with demonstration of self breast examination. This service was provided for a week initially. And [in 2006] we started to implement the same programme throughout October month.”
The foundation reached out to women and girls across the social gamut: in the garment industry, in university halls, in schools and colleges. “We collected donations from members of the foundation and friends and relatives to spend money for programmes.”
Pink road show
But preventive medicine works best when it happens at great scale. In 2013, Ruskin set up a new entity – the Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum (BBCAF). An alliance of 14 different organisations, the BBCAF set out to make waves, declaring 10 October as Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and convening the inaugural instalment under bright pink banners.
“In the first four to five years, the day’s observance was limited to the capital. But since 2017 the programme has spread all over the country. Now 49 organisations are members of the forum,” Ruskin said.
“We also provide overall cancer related programmes like national conferences, seminars, symposiums. I work as the chief coordinator of the forum. Now a “Pink Road Show” is observed in different programmes – wearing pink dresses and caps helps build awareness among people.”
Cervical cancer screening has been part of the BCF’s mission since 2003, Ruskin said, with a Cervical Cancer Service Week launched for the first time in Bangladesh in January of that year under teal-coloured banners. In 2016, his group launched “March for Mother”, a cervical cancer awareness rally on the second Saturday of each new year.
Today, BCF has adopted “WHO’s new programmes for elimination – the 90-70-90 targets”, he said, describing the percentage targets for vaccination of girls, screening of women by age 35 and 45, and treatment of women with pre-cancers. “We are also carrying out advocacy programmes, hold seminars also for doctors, policymakers and mass people.”
Ruskin said his team established the Community Oncology Centre (COC) in 2018, to spread the cancer services to the masses. The programme brings leaders from villages on board, training them on symptoms and places where treatment and screening is available, to make them a node of information spread in their communities.
“Under this centre, we have set up virtual satellite clinic. We are also working to convince all private and community hospitals to link up with the Community Oncology Centre.”
Source: gavi.org
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/pink-man-bangladesh-has-been-fighting-prevention-female-cancers-three-decades
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Shahla Mohammadi: "Women Of E. Kurdistan, Iran Will Unite, Topple Authoritarian Regimes"
3 July, 2025
Nûjînha Women's News Agency (Nûjînha) reporter Shahla Mohammadi explained the Iran-Israel war and developments in the Middle East to ANHA's agency.
Shahla Mohammadi began her talk by highlighting the crisis in the Middle East, particularly the Iran-Israel war, stating that the effects of the war do not remain limited to the two groups but are felt by the rest of the region as well.
"The final goal is to replace the Iranian regime."
Shahla Mohammadi explained that the war between Israel and Iran is a continuation of the war among dominant countries. She said, "First, the war between Iran and Israel is a continuation of the October 7, 2023 Gaza attacks. The character of these wars and conflicts is that the main target is to change the Iranian regime because the interference of the Iranian regime in Middle Eastern countries was the key reason for the Iranian attacks. Moreover, Iran's hegemony and domination over the region is unacceptable to the United States and the strong European powers of the region. All the Middle Eastern countries, from Afghanistan to Pakistan, are experiencing great conflicts and crises, and Iran has made efforts hard to strengthen its military might and economic power and consolidate its hegemony and influence in neighboring countries."
Shahla Mohammadi explained that Iran's nuclear arsenal poses a serious threat, and Israel and the United States perceive the Iranian regime as a threat. Iran has been eager to form a "Shiite crescent" or Shiite belt for a long time. Meanwhile, Turkey is talking about an Ottoman mentality state, and the Iranian regime is trying to establish a Shiite regime. Both these approaches and mindsets are completely disregarded by the elements and residents of the region.
"The Iranian people are still threatened."
Shahla stressed that the most important matter is whether the present wars and attacks will be against the people in Eastern Kurdistan and Iran. Though the United States called for a bilateral ceasefire between Iran and Israel, both nations have violated this ceasefire. She said, "We can say the attacks on Gaza are ongoing despite there being ceasefire declarations on various occasions. The same applies to Lebanon. The war and attacks on Hezbollah went on despite the ceasefire declaration. Such wars and attacks between the two regimes cause immense harm to Eastern Kurdistan people. For example, institutions cannot Service employees are at risk due to the attacks, and the residents of the area cannot survive by working. The danger to the people of Eastern Kurdistan and Iran is also increasing due to the disruption of the internet and information.".
"Iran is not able to solve this crisis with this nationalist and religious extremism."
Shahla Mohammadi explained that this debate is a good opportunity to reform the religious mentality of the Iranian regime and stabilize Eastern Kurdistan. She further added, "If this repressive mentality of the Iranian regime's rule over the people continues on, there will be a massive revolt led by Kurdish women, especially in Tehran, the capital city, and major Iranian cities. The Israeli attacks forced many to move to neighboring countries. The Iran-Israel wars are of historic types and of personal interest."
Shahla Mohammadi explained that the ongoing launching of such attacks will lead to a huge disaster for the region. She said, "Iran and Eastern Kurdistan were weak enough, of course. Now, this crisis has come deeper, and their map is faced with a grave humanitarian disaster, because the inhabitants of the region live on commerce as the primary source of subsistence. It is also important to point out the situation of political prisoners in Iranian regime prisons. Many individuals are detained in these prisons, supervised by the IRGC's intelligence, but not protected from airstrikes. Israeli airstrikes have been carried out against the Iranian armed forces and government officials, thus soldiers and prison guards are also targeted.".
"Evin Prison Attacks"
Shahla Mohammadi mentioned the raids on Evin Prison, further stating: "During the raids, Evin Prison has also been attacked, and lots of people have been killed and wounded. The remaining prisoners have been sent to other prisons, and the life of the prisoners is still in danger. In today's situation, it seems that the Iranian regime is not even able to protect itself, not just the prisoners. The Israeli attacks are very powerful, and Israel has destroyed Iran's defense system with its agents inside as well. That's why the prisoners who are detained in prisons inside Eastern Kurdistan and Iran need to be immediately released.".
"The lives of the prisoners are still in danger."
Shahla Mohammadi concluded by saying: "Israel and Iran are violating human rights with these attacks. Meanwhile, the three political prisoners, WarishehMoradi, Bakhshan Azizi, and Sharifeh Mohammadi, are being imprisoned. The women who were sentenced to death in Evin Prison were assaulted. Now we don't know anything about the three political prisoners. WarishehMoradi's family was able to reach her only once after the attacks. In the attacks on Evin Prison, the dormitory of the women was devastated, since the wall was devastated. Although the Iranian regime announced transferring the prisoners, they are still threatened. The movements against the Iranian regime began in 1988 and have continued up to this moment. It is a struggle between two powers. I say to the women and citizens of Eastern Kurdistan and Iran: 'Unite on the slogan of "Women, Life, Freedom" and end the mentality of authoritarian regimes.
Source: hawarnews.com
https://hawarnews.com/en/women-of-e-kurdistan-iran-will-unite-topple-authoritarian-regimes
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Baluch Women Stand Tall Against Regime Brutality in Southeastern Gunich Village
2nd July 2025
In the early hours of Tuesday, July 1, the village of Gunich in Khash County, located in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, became the latest site of state-sponsored violence. A coordinated military raid, launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and regime law enforcement, left at least one woman dead, eleven injured—many critically—and more than 50 arrested, according to both human rights organizations and regime-affiliated media.
The attack began around 5:00 AM and continued for nearly five hours. With the village’s men absent at the time, Baluch women took it upon themselves to resist. In a bold act of self-defense, they blocked the entrances to their village and burned tires to prevent the armed forces from advancing further. Videos circulating on social media show women hurling stones, erecting makeshift barriers, and crying out in protest as live ammunition was fired in their direction.
This resistance was not just spontaneous—it was an act of generational defiance rooted in years of systemic repression and marginalization of the Baluch minority in Iran. The attack on Gunich is widely seen as a continuation of the regime’s brutal policies against ethnic groups, reminiscent of the 2022 “Bloody Friday” massacre in Zahedan, when security forces killed scores of Baluch protesters.
Deadly Raid Without Justification
According to human rights reports, the regime’s forces entered Gunich without a court order, falsely claiming that residents were armed. They stormed homes and indiscriminately opened fire. The primary target appeared to be members of the Bameri family, several of whom were protesting the regime’s recent military conduct in the region.
One woman, 40-year-old Khan Bibi Bameri, was killed during the raid. Eleven others, including four girls under the age of 18, were seriously wounded.
At least two of the injured remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Khash Hospital. The young age of many of the victims highlights the indiscriminate nature of the violence and the regime’s willingness to target even children and pregnant women.
Maryam Rajavi: A Salute to the Brave Baluchi Women
Following the attack, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), condemned the assault and honored the bravery of the women in Gunich. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote: “The brutal attack by the Revolutionary Guards and the State Security forces on the defenseless women of Gonich village in Khash County, in southeastern Iran, once again reveals the ugly face of the misogynistic clerical regime.
“At the same time, the brave resistance of Baluchi women against the aggressors reflects the determination and strength of Iranian women in the fight against religious fascism.
In this brutal assault, one Baluchi woman lost her life, and several others were injured, some critically. The women of the village resisted by throwing stones and burning tires, successfully preventing the assailants from re-entering.
“Salute to the brave Baluchi women. My heartfelt condolences go out to the people of Khash and to the family of Khan-Bibi Bameri, who was murdered by Khamenei’s agents. I wish the wounded a swift recovery, and call on the youth to stand in solidarity with the people of Gonich.”
A Symbol of Defiance
The women of Gunich, unarmed and unprotected, took extraordinary steps to protect their community. In the face of gunfire and intimidation, they raised their voices, blocked roads, and physically resisted with nothing but stones and determination. Their resistance has become a powerful symbol of courage in the face of tyranny.
Local sources describe the village atmosphere as “warlike,” with children traumatized and families shattered. The regime’s raid has sparked renewed outrage among civil society and human rights advocates, who say the attack reflects a broader pattern of targeted repression and ethnic cleansing under the mullahs’ regime.
A Pattern of Oppression
The Baluch minority in Iran has long suffered from state neglect, poverty, discrimination, and periodic crackdowns. Tuesday’s attack was not an isolated incident but part of a larger strategy of domination through fear, especially in regions home to ethnic and religious minorities.
This assault, occurring in the silence of Iran’s judiciary and political institutions, once again highlights the lack of accountability in the regime’s security apparatus. While Tasnim News, affiliated with the IRGC, confirmed two deaths and dozens of arrests, it provided no justification for the deadly raid—underscoring the regime’s impunity.
The World Must Not Remain Silent
The tragedy in Gunich is a stark reminder of the regime’s unrelenting brutality, particularly against women and marginalized communities. As the regime tightens its grip in the wake of its war with Israel and amid mounting internal unrest, these acts of violence are likely to escalate.
But the women of Gunich have shown the world that even in the darkest moments, resistance persists. Their stand is a call to action—for justice, for accountability, and for international attention to the plight of Iran’s oppressed minorities.
Source: ncr-iran.org
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/iran-protests/baluch-women-stand-tall-against-regime-brutality-in-southeastern-gunich-village/
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“Muslim Woman Allegedly Assaulted, Stomped On In Oshawa: Council Of Canadian Muslims Says ‘Appalled And Disgusted’
July 2, 2025
By John Marchesan
The National Council of Canadian Muslims says it is ‘appalled and disgusted’ after a Muslim woman was allegedly assaulted early Wednesday morning in Oshawa.
According to a social media post, the NCCM says the woman, who owns a local restaurant, observed a group of individuals allegedly trying to rob the restaurant and confronted them.
“The attackers pulled off the woman’s hijab and proceeded to assault her, including stomping on her head,” the organization said.
The NCCM says they would like police to investigate the incident as a hate-motivated crime.
Durham Regional Police have yet to release any details about the alleged incident.
“The facts are clear: Islamophobic attacks have spiked across the country in the past two years, including a recent string of Islamophobic incidents in the Durham region,” the NCCM said. “Our elected leaders must take action to address this wave of hate.”
The NCCM plans to speak more about this incident at a news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday in Oshawa.
Source: citynews.ca
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/07/02/appalled-and-disgusted-muslim-woman-allegedly-assaulted-stomped-on-in-oshawa/
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AfDB Extends Facility For Mauritanian SMEs and Women-Led Businesses
JULY 2, 2025
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved €25.5mn-worth of financing for Générale de Banque de Mauritanie, aiding the lender’s offerings to large corporates, SMEs and women-led businesses in Mauritania.
The package consists of a €15mn dedicated trade finance line of credit, a €5mn trade finance guarantee and €500,000 offered as a grant under AfDB’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa programme.
The bank is also providing US$5mn in co-financing with the Africa Growing Together Fund, which is a US$2bn facility sponsored by the People’s Bank of China and administered by AfDB.
AfDB says the funds will be used to facilitate the import of equipment in priority sectors, including renewable energy, fishing, infrastructure, agriculture and telecommunications, and to enable the import of essential goods necessary to meet immediate domestic needs.
The primary beneficiaries of the funds will be local large businesses and SMEs, “including those owned or led by women”, the bank says.
Ahmed Attout, director of the financial sector development department at AfDB, says the trade finance guarantee will allow the bank to provide up to 100% coverage to confirming banks, enabling them to confirm trade finance documents, including letters of credit, issued by Générale de Banque de Mauritanie.
This is the second such partnership between the two institutions, Attout says.
“This initiative goes beyond financial progress – it is a real lever for inclusive growth,” says Leila Boumatou, chair of Générale de Banque de Mauritanie.
“It empowers our entrepreneurs, particularly women, to turn local ambitions into tangible outcomes. The facility will allow us to bridge a structural financing gap and translate financial instruments into real impact – supporting women-led SMEs, fostering industrial innovation, and helping build a more resilient Mauritanian economy.”
MalinneBlomberg, AfDB’s deputy director general for North Africa, adds that the facility aligns with the bank’s objective of scaling up direct support to the private sector in Mauritania, and says it will create and sustain thousands of jobs.
Générale de Banque de Mauritanie is systematic financial institution in Mauritania, dedicated solely to financing SMEs and companies in “key economic sectors”, according to AfDB’s website.
The bank has a €209mn total balance sheet, and serves over 1,300 clients. It is also the only bank in Mauritania led by a woman.
In late May, AfDB announced members had elected SidiOuldTah, Mauritania’s former finance minister and a veteran of development finance in Africa and around the world, as its president, with his term beginning in September.
Source: gtreview.com
https://www.gtreview.com/news/africa/afdb-extends-facility-for-mauritanian-smes-and-women-led-businesses/
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Engineering College Principal Threatened Over `Ban’ On Hijab; Case Registered
02 July, 2025
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra), Jul 2 (PTI) A case of criminal intimidation has been registered here against six unidentified persons for allegedly threatening the principal of a local engineering college for `not allowing’ girls to wear the hijab.
College authorities denied that there was any such ban, stating that restrictions were imposed only during examinations.
The incident took place at the People’s Education Society’s (PES) Engineering College on Monday, following which principal Abhijit Wadekar lodged a complaint at the Cantonment police station, said a police official.
A group of six men entered the college around 1.45 pm while examinations were underway, and asked him “why do you not allow our people to wear hijab”, the complainant claimed.
They also allegedly used swear-words and threatened him while shouting slogans.
A case was registered on Tuesday under BNS sections 189 (2) (unlawful assembly), 333 (trespass), 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 351 (criminal intimidation), the police official said, adding that probe was underway.
Wadekar told reporters on Wednesday that hijab is allowed at the college. “We allow it. But students are expected to keep their face visible when they sit for examination,” he clarified. PTI AW KRK
Source: theprint.in
https://theprint.in/india/engineering-college-principal-threatened-over-ban-on-hijab-case-registered/2677447/
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Punjab aims for plastic-free future, says CM Maryam Nawaz
July 03, 2025
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s commitment to eliminating plastic pollution across the province, vowing to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
In her message on Plastic Bag Free Day, the chief minister said the provincial government is actively promoting the use of eco-friendly alternatives, such as cloth and paper bags, in place of harmful plastic ones.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that a culture of compliance with environmental laws is being fostered in markets and industrial units to support the goal of a plastic-free Punjab.
She further stated that the government is introducing sustainable and recyclable solutions to reduce dependency on plastic and protect the ecosystem for future generations.
Source: nation.com.pk
https://www.nation.com.pk/03-Jul-2025/punjab-aims-for-plastic-free-future-says-cm-maryam-nawaz
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/pink-man-bangladesh-female-cancers/d/136066