Dr Hameeda Hossain has been honoured with the Bangladesh Development Initiative's (BDI) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021.
BDI, a US-based non-partisan research and advocacy group of independent scholars and professionals, made the announcement in a press release recently.
The award, established in 2012, is designed to honour outstanding individuals or organizations who have contributed significantly to understanding the challenges and the ideals that have led to the development of Bangladesh and have improved the quality of life for its citizens.
Through the award, the BDI Executive Committee recognizes and celebrates the work of a scholar or institution of high reputation and integrity whose work has inspired others to develop and implement ideas for the betterment of the people of Bangladesh.
This year, the BDI selection committee has determined that throughout her long and distinguished career, Dr Hameeda has embodied the ideals of BDI by employing her knowledge, talents, time, and skills to work tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized in Bangladeshi society.
The award will be formally presented at BDI's next international conference, the date of which will be announced later on.
Born in Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan) in 1936, Dr Hameeda Hossain attended missionary schools in Karachi and Hyderabad.
She studied literature and history as an undergraduate at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, US. She received her doctorate in history from Oxford University in the UK.
Her professional career began as an editor of Oxford University Press in Karachi. She helped co-found the English language political monthly magazine, Forum, in then East Pakistan in 1967.
Between 1968 and March 1971, she served as the magazine's editor.
Forum played a critical role in raising awareness of the systemic inequities and discrimination suffered by the people of East Pakistan.
After the independence of Bangladesh, Dr Hameeda joined the University Press Limited in Dhaka as an editor. She became actively involved in the rehabilitation of the women survivors of wartime sexual violence.
Her efforts to develop and market local artisanal crafts led to the formation, in November 1974, of Karika -- Bangladesh Hastashilpa Samabaya Federation Ltd.
She has also published widely on a variety of topics, including women's experiences of the war, arts and crafts, the apparel industry, women workers and human rights.
Dr Hameeda Hossain is also a founding member of Ain o Salish Kendra, a legal aid and human rights organization, which was established in 1986.