Speakers in a function here on Monday said Begum Rokeya had played a pioneering role in establishing rights of women and eradicating superstition from the society in Indian sub continent.
“Begum Rokeya who was born in Pyrabond village in Rangpur district on December 9 in 1880 and died on the same day in 1932 in Kolkata, India, showed the women the enlightened path of freedom breaking social restrictions”, they said.
They said this while addressing a discussion meeting on Begum Rokeya Day-2013 and International Female Oppression Prevention Fortnight at the hall room of Shaghata upazila parishad in the district.
Shaghata upazila administration and women affairs office arranged the function in cooperation with SKS Foundation under its Resilience through Economic Empowerment Climate and Adaptation Leadership and Learning project funded by Oxfam.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdul Awal addressed the meeting as the chief guest and upazila vice chairman Abdul Hadi was present as the special guest while upazila female vice chairman Fazilatunnesa presided over the ceremony.
The function was also addressed, among others, by upazila agriculture officer M. Shams Uddin Firoz, upazila women affairs officer Paban Kumar Sarker, Bharatkhali UP chairman Shamsul Azad Shital, Jumarbari UP chairman Mahfuzar Rahman Mafu, and coordinator of REE-CAL project M. Osman Gani.
UNO Abdul Awal in his speeches said Begum Rokeya also reawakened the country’s womenfolk through her writings and strongly spoke for the economic freedom and education for Muslim women.
He also stressed the need for joint efforts of all stakeholders to check all sorts of domestic violence against women in a bid to maintain a sound and peaceful atmosphere in the society at the greater interest of overall development of the country.
Later, the guests, in different categories, distributed prizes under the programme of Jayeeta Annweshane Bangladesh to the 5 winners who had prospered in lives through struggling and facing different adverse situation and become the model in the society.
Upazila level officials, women leaders, social workers, NGO activists, and cultural personalities including journalists participated in the meeting.- BSS, Gaibandha
