Bangladesh Update Desk
The government is going to award five women with the prestigious ‘Begum Rokeya Padak, 2023’ for their extraordinary contribution to various sectors,
to commemorate Begum Rokeya’s contribution to women’s empowerment.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the chief guest will hand over the ‘Begum Rokeya Padak, 2023’, to the recipients at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here at 10 am on Saturday.
“Begum Rokeya is the pioneer of Bengali Muslim women’s awakening. She has contributed immensely to women’s education, rights and women’s movement.
The government is awarding the medal in remembrance of her phenomenal contribution towards womankind,” said State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Begum Fazilatunnesa Indira
at a press meet in the conference room of the Press Information Department of the secretariat here on Thursday, said a press release.
The state minister also said that on Saturday is ‘Begum Rokeya Day’ (the anniversary of the birth and death of Begum Rokeya), and it is a source of endless motivation for women, said the press release.
“The importance of the day is immense for the socio-economic development of women’s society in Bangladesh, protection of women’s rights, empowerment of women and creation of equality,” she said.
Stating that the empowerment of women in the country began under the guidance and leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
Indira added, “Bangabandhu gave equal rights to women in the constitution, awarded heroic honours to women oppressed during the great Liberation War,
treated and rehabilitated them…His rightful successor Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also following the footsteps of her father.”
“She adopted various timely action plans for the development, empowerment and equal rights of women in Bangladesh,
under her guidance, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs is implementing various activities for the development and empowerment of women.
The successful progress of women today in all fields of education, employment, business and self-employment plays an important role in the development and economy of the country,” she said.
Each of the medal recipients will be awarded a gold medal, a check of Tk four lakh and a certificate.
Khaleda Ekram (6 August 1950 – 24 May 2016) was a Bangladeshi architect, professor, researcher, and academician.
She served as the 12th vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
She was the former dean of the faculty of architecture and planning and head of the department of architecture at BUET.
She was the first woman to be appointed as the vice-chancellor of BUET. She held the position from September 2014 until her death in May 2016 won the award this year in Dhaka district for her special contribution to women’s education.
Dr.Halida Hanum Akhter, Rangpur district won the medal for her special contribution to the establishment of women’s rights,
and Kamrunnesa Ashraf Dina of Netrakona district was awarded for her special contribution to the field of women’s socio-economic development.
Nishat Majumdar of Lakshmipur district and Ronita-Bala of Thakurgaon district received the Begum Rokeya Padak this year
for their special contribution to the field of women’s awakening through literature and culture and the field of rural development respectively added the press release.
