Writing competition courts international entries

South Asian arts agency Sampad has launched a specially commissioned, international writing competition for women and girls from Birmingham, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The competition - 'My city, my home ' - is aimed at emerging female writers from all three locations.

An independent panel of judges will judge the entries, and the winners will see their work published online and in a book, and well as being the subject of readings at events in the UK and other countries.

'My city, my home ' is part of Transforming Narratives, a three- year project to establish Birmingham as a global centre for contemporary arts from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The competition has received more than 270 poems or short stories from women and girls aged 16 about the phrase 'My city, my home '. Entries have received writings in English, Urdu, and Bangla languages.

Sampad director Piali Ray (pictured) said: “We want to give women and girls the chance to tell their story. We need to hear it from them. ”