Begum Rokeya Day is being observed countrywide on Wednesday (December 9) to pay homage to Begum Rokeya Sakhawat, a social reformer of women’ rights and education in the subcontinent.

The momentous day is the 140th birth and 88th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya, a Muslim woman who fought against all the prevailing superstitions and injustice.

The government, socio-cultural and women’s organizations have chalked up programs to observe Rokeya Day-2020.

Following COVID-19 guidelines, this year the day is scheduled to be observed by various government, private, socio-cultural and political organisations with prayer sessions, placing floral wreaths on her portraits and sculptures, discussions, seminars and more.
 
Five distinguished female personalities have received the prestigious Begum Rokeya Padak 2020 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to women empowerment and progress.

The award recipients are- Shirin Akhtar, Brigadier General Dr Nazma Begum, Manjulika Chakma, Begum Mushtari Shafi, and Farida Akhter Begum.

Begum Rokeya was a lifelong fighter against all kinds of gender inequalities. She was born at Pairaband of Mithapukur in Rangpur on December 9 in 1880 and died on December 9 in 1932 in Kolkata.

She established the first school for Muslim girls in the then undivided Bengal in the early 20th century, which is now situated on Lord Sinha Road in Kolkata.

A prolific writer and essayist, Rokeya made a remarkable contribution to Bangla literature. Her major works include Matichur, Padmarag, Abarodhbasini and Sultana’s Dream.

She also founded the Anjuman-e-Khawateen-e-Islam (Islamic Women’s Association), which campaigned for raising the status and education of women.

BDST: 1237 HRS, DEC 09, 2020
AP/SMS