Four exceptional women received the Begum Rokeya Award 2024 from the Chief Adviser, Dr Muhammad Yunus, on Monday in recognition of their remarkable contributions to society, women's education, and empowerment.
These women, from diverse fields including education, activism, sports, and photography, have made lasting impacts in their communities and beyond. Here’s a look at the inspiring women who received the prestigious Begum Rokeya Padak this year.
Perween Hasan
Dr Perween Hasan is an academic and human rights advocate of Bangladesh.
She is chairperson at Transparency International Bangladesh and Vice-Chancellor of Central Women's University. Located in Hatkhola Road, the university caters particularly to women from middle and lower-middle income families of the old city. Tution fees are kept to a minimum, and child care facilities are provided to enable women with children to attend classes while their children are in reliable care.
Hasan earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Dhaka. She completed her second master's in Regional Studies and received her PhD in Islamic Architecture from Harvard University in 1984.
Following her PhD, Hasan joined the University of Dhaka's Department of Islamic History and Culture.
Prior to her studies in the USA she had studied and taught in the Department of English at DU. In the Department of Women and Gender Studies at DU she developed and taught courses on Women and Culture, Women and Art, and Women and Religion.
In 2014 she delivered the Rokeya Lecture of Dhaka University, the topic being: "Situating Rokeya." She has also taught in the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and the Departments of Architecture, and English and Humanities in Brac University.
As a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence in 1993-94 and then as a Shansi Fellow in 2000, she taught in the Art Department of Oberlin College, USA. She has also been a a distinguished lecturer at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK.
Between 1998 and 2000, Hasan was a founding executive committee member of the American Alumni Association.
A prominent author, Hasan has written several books, including "Sultans and Mosques: The Early Muslim Architecture of Bangladesh" and several essays in journals, book chapters, and encyclopedia on the subjects of art, architecture and women’s writings. She is particularly interested in cross cultural exchanges through art, architecture, religion and literature, specially women’s writings.
From 2020 to 2023 she was chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Taslima Akhter
Taslima Akhter is an activist and photographer of Bangladesh.
She graduated from both Dhaka University and Pathshala, a photography school.
A member of various activist groups, she documented the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, capturing an iconic image of a couple who perished in each other’s embrace.
Akhter aims to highlight social and environmental challenges through her photography.
She also documented the fire incident at the Tazreen Garments factory in 2012.
Her photography has been showcased in multiple countries.
In 2010, her work earned her the Magnum Foundation scholarship.
Akhter is part of the women's organization Biplobi Nari Sanghati and the leftist party Ganasamhati Andolon.
Furthermore, she serves as a coordinator for the Garments Sramik Sangathan (garment workers' union).
Additionally, she is an instructor at Pathshala.
Rani Hamid
Rani Hamid is a chess player of Bangladesh.
In 1985, she achieved the distinction of being the first Woman International Master in Bangladesh.
Throughout her career, she has claimed the national championship title 20 times, most recently winning at the 38th Women's National Championship when she was 75.
In August 2018, she secured her 19th National Women's Chess Championship title.
Additionally, she has triumphed three times in the British Women's Chess Championship.
In 2018, she earned the title of Zonal Champion, received the Journalists Choice Award at the Chess World Cup in Russia, and won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Chess tournament in 2017 held in Delhi.
In September 2024, at the age of 80, Hamid bested Springer Leshay from Barbados during the third round of the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, contributing to Bangladesh's women's team victory over Barbados by a score of 3.5-0.5.
Born in Sylhet in 1944, she began her chess journey at 34 years old.
Hamid was married to Lieutenant Colonel MA Hamid, who was involved in sports organization.
Their son, Kaiser Hamid, played football for Mohammedan Sporting Club and served as the Bangladesh national football team captain in the 1980s and 1990s.
On Monday, Kaiser Hamid accepted the award on behalf of his mother, Rani Hamid.
Shireen Haque
Shireen Haque is a pioneering figure in Bangladeshi feminism.
Currently, she is the chair of the Women Affairs Reform Commission, established by the Interim government of Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus.
In 1983, she co-founded Naripokkho, which emerged 12 years after Bangladesh achieved independence.
This organization has become a prominent advocate for women's rights within the nation.
While starting Naripokkho, Shireen was in the UK working towards her PhD.
She transitioned from academia to activism due to a surge of interest in feminism in a new nation where women's rights were often overlooked in political discourse.
From 1987 to 2006, Shireen was an advisor for the Danish development agency, DANIDA, but her dedication to Naripokkho—done entirely voluntarily—has always been her true passion.
Huq is also a trustee board member of Gono Bishwabidyalay.
Additionally, she is the co-convener of the Bangladesh Civil Society Platform on Justice and Accountability for the Rohingyas.
Shireen is married to Zafrullah Chowdhury, the founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.