The day is observed in the country since 2000.

This year the theme of the day was "Our pledge: No more malnourished girl child."

Different organisations chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.

National Girl Child Advocacy Forum in association with The Hunger Project organised essay and drawing competitions, brought out procession from Shishu Academy and organised a discussion at the National Press Club in the city.

Speakers at the discussion stressed the need for more investment for girl child to ensure a bright future for them.

They called for making girl child nutrition issue a national one and taking steps to remove gender disparity from the society.

Speaking as chief guest, eminent cultural activist Mustafa Monwar said the movement to ensure girl child's rights and nutrition has to be started from the family first.

Dr Halima Khatun of Dhaka University, Zinat Afroz of Plan Bangladesh, rights activist Latifa Akhund, Taleya Rehman of Democracy Watch, Principal Yasmin Banu of Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls' College were present on the occasion.

The discussion was presided over by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, country director of The Hunger Project.

Later prizes were distributed among the girl children who participated in essay and drawing competitions at different categories held at Shilpakala Academy on September 22.

Another discussion was organised jointly by Steps Towards Development, Dhaka Development Forum (DDF) and Oxfam-GB at Biam auditorium in the city.

Speakers at the discussion called for changing the attitudes of the family and society towards girl child.

They stressed the need for an amendment to property inheritance law to ensure equal rights for girl child.

They said girl child must be provided with education, entertainment, freedom of movement and other equal opportunity at every stage of life.

Dr Mahmudur Rahman of DDF, Mona Mehta of Oxfam-GB, noted filmmaker Subhash Dutta, rights activist Sheela Momen, and cartoonist Shishir Bhattachariya spoke on the occasion.