Today is December 9. Begum Rokeya’s 140th birth and 88th death anniversary. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat, the pioneer of women’s awakening, was born on this day in 1880 AD in a village of Payraband in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. And died on the same day, December 9, 1932.
This time, due to Corona, the birth and death days of the pioneer of women have been limited to organizing the day with due dignity across the country with a strong oath to accelerate the women’s liberation movement.
On the occasion of the day, government and non-government organizations, socio-cultural organizations have organized various health programs in Mithapukur Payraband of Rangpur, the birthplace of Begum Rokeya and other parts of the country. Every year a fair is held at Payrabandha, the birthplace of Begum Rokeya, but this year it is not happening due to Corona.
Meanwhile, President Advocate Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker of the National Parliament called upon the women community like Begum Rokeya to come forward in building a self-reliant nation.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury gave a separate message. In the message, she called for speeding up the women’s liberation movement inspired by Begum Rokeya’s consciousness, ethics and ideals.
Majestic woman Begum Rokeya has fought till death for equal rights of women in the state, society and family system. Rokeya has exposed religious orthodoxy, social prejudice and women’s captivity in her timeless writings like Matichur, Sultana’s Dream, Padmarag etc. She has stood up against child marriage, dowry, misinterpretation of religion and other unfair treatment of women. She was always vocal in changing the idea of keeping women confined to the home by depriving them of basic human rights. The women’s liberation movement is following the path shown by her.
News Room, December 09,2020