Begum Rokeya Day was observed on Monday at her birthplace, Mithapukur's Pairaband village, with due respect and in a befitting manner marking her 139th birth and 87th death anniversary.
Member of Parliament (MP) HN Ashiqur Rahman, Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of Bangla Academy, Adv Safia Khanom, chairman of the district administration office, and many high end officials inaugurated the three day celebrations.
Placing floral wreaths at the plaque of Begum Rokeya in Pairaband, they paid their respect to the eminent writer and activist.
Marking the day, several cultural organizations, schools, and colleges in the district are holding three day long programs with various discussion programs, fairs, essay writing, debate and art competitions, blood donation, and more.
Begum Rokeya University commemorates namesake
A celebratory procession of teachers and students of the university, was joined by Arts Faculty Dean, Professor Dr Sarifa Salowara Dina, representing the vice-chancellor, and other teachers, university officials, and various organizations of the university.
A discussion was held at the university cafeteria, presided by the Arts Faculty dean, moderated by Professor Newaz Mostafa of Economics Department, and Dr Parimal Chandra Barman of Bangla Department, Md Atiur Rahman, dean, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, and Professor Dr RM Hafizur Rahman, Finance and Accounting Director of the university were present at the event among others.
Begum Rokeya was a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educationist, social activist, and advocate of women's rights, widely regarded as the pioneer of women's education in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Muslim women, during British rule.
She was born on December 9, 1880, at Pairaband village in Rangpur and passed away on the same date in 1932.