Eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal today said that an individual alone cannot develop an ideal society, everyone must come together and organise to that end.

"An individual alone cannot build an ideal society. We have to come together, be organised, and fight for what we are owed. We cannot just think about ourselves. We have to think about which system will benefit everyone," she said.

Sultana Kamal made the remarks while addressing a discussion marking the 45th anniversary of rights organisation Nijera Kori in Bogura.

Speaking at the discussion, Saleha Begum, a landless member from Rangpur's Payraband, said, "Before, we used to earn just Tk 30 for farming, but after uniting and standing up to the local tyrants, we began to see better days. Now, we earn Tk 350."

Kochhim Uddin from Tangail's Dhanbari said, "We have succeeded in many movements and even freed our water bodies, all because we understood the power of collective action. Despite facing all sorts of violence, we remain determined to fight for our rights."

Rights activist Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, and Freedom Fighter Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi, and Dr Samina Luthfa, associate professor at the Department of Sociology in Dhaka University, among others, were also present at the event.

Nijera Kori celebrated its anniversary with a vibrant event featuring dialogues, cultural performances, and reflections on past decades at its training centre in Noongola, Bogura, today.

The day began with a 'gana sangeet' performance by Nijera Kori staff, with the songs demanding equal rights and justice for the marginalised.

The event also featured a puppet show by Jolputul, a musical performance by F Minor, and the drama "Khona" performed by BotTala.

Founded in 1980 to mobilise rural women and men, Nijera Kori has consistently emphasised collective action, land justice, and women's rights.