Begum Rokeya Day will be celebrated tomorrow (Friday) to commemorate the contribution of Begum Rokeya, a pioneer of Bengali women's education and a social reformer for ensuring equal rights for women and men.
In observance of the day, the ministry of women and children affairs has taken programmes, including awarding 'Begum Rokeys Padak' to five women for their outstanding contribution to empowering women in the country, reports BSS.
On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday issued separate messages paying respect to the memory of Begum Rokeya for his contribution to spreading education for women. Both the President and Prime Minister congratulated the five women on receiving "Begum Rokeya Padak 2022".
President Abdul Hamid said Begum Rokeya had made a significant contribution to illuminating the deprived and neglected women with the light of education.
"She was not only a pioneer in women's education but also a dedicated social worker with many talents," he said.
The President said Begum Rokeya was able to realise with foresight that education and equal rights between men and women were very important in improving the fate of women.
Abdul Hamid said the present government is taking and implementing various programmes and policies for the women who are making a wonderful contribution to every field of development in the way Begum Rokeya had shown.
"Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now a role model in empowering women. Women are now playing important roles in politics, foreign policy, the law profession, administration, armed forces, economy, journalism, art-culture and sports," he added.
The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working sincerely for women's empowerment by involving them in the country's overall development activities, he added.
Hamid urged all to come forward to establish a non-discriminatory society by implementing Begum Rokeya's dream.
In her message, Sheikh Hasina said she is happy to know that Begum Rokeya Day 2022 will be celebrated to commemorate the contribution of Begum Rokeya, a pioneer of Bengali women's education, a social reformer and a litterateur.
Paying homage to the social reformer, Hasina said Begum Rokeya was a far-sighted modern woman as she realized the importance of women's education alongside men for the overall development of society and the state.
"This realization and ideal of Rokeya still inspire us," she added.
She said Begum Rokeya raised her voice about the need for women's education and building an equality-based society between men and women through her essays, stories and novels.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a pioneer in spreading women's education in Bangladesh and the formation of a state based on equality for men and women, she said, adding that Bangabandhu believed that to take the country forward and establish a golden Bangladesh, it was not possible without ensuring equal rights for women.
Therefore, realizing the immense importance of equal rights, dignity and freedom for women, Bangabandhu laid a firm foundation for the empowerment of women in the constitution, she said.
Bangabandhu made provision of reserved seats for women in the National Assembly, the premier said, adding that in 1972, he reserved the 10 per cent quota for women in employment and his first five-year plan adopted in 1973, he adopted education, health, family planning and welfare-based programmes for women.
"Our government has ensured the participation of women in all spheres of national life," she said, adding that Bangladesh ranked 7th in the world in political empowerment of women. Women represent 70 per cent of health workers and over 80 per cent of garment workers, she said.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
