Skip to main content

Ella Pad Bangladesh

Commonwealth Point of Light 101. Mamunur Rahman

Mamunur Rahman, representing Bangladesh, is the founder of ‘Ella Pad’, an innovative low-cost, eco-friendly sanitary product made out of garment waste by women, for women.

10 Downing Street

In Bangladesh four million women working in garment factories lack access to sanitary towels, and usually depend on dirty rags, often leading to infections and resulting in the need to take time off work. Motivated to change this, Mamunur created ‘Ella Pad’, a low-cost sanitary pad which has improved health, hygiene and employment opportunities for over 50,000 women. Mamunur’s groundbreaking work has reduced the rate of absenteeism in factories and schools, while also reducing waste.

The daily Points of Light award recognises outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a change in their community.

Volunteer now

Search winners