Ten women for their outstanding role in 10 distinctive fields have been awarded the Ananya Shrisho Das ( Anannya top 10) award in an online event on Wednesday.
Sumona Sharmin in journalism, F Minor band group in music, Nasima Akter Nisha in entrepreneurship, Protiva Sangma (posthumous) in education, Farida Zaman in art, Srimati Saha in social work, Hazera Begum as a role model (Ononya Drishtanto), Eti Khatun in sports, Israt Khan Majlis as an organizer, and Falguni Saha as an inspiration have been awarded this year for their outstanding contribution.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, who was also awarded Ananya top 10 in 2007, joined the event virtually as a chief guest. She said Ananya magazine is doing an excellent job recognizing these outstanding women who set up an example for the society.
“Human rights cannot be established without ensuring equal rights for women. Women from all walks of life get inspiration from this Ananyas,” she said.
Hazera Begum, one of the awardees, shelters children including sex workers’ children and drug addicts’ children in a safe home she built with her lifelong savings. She saw the darkest side of life when she used to work as a sex worker herself. Later, she decided that she would spend the rest of her life working for these unprivileged children. She earned the title Ma Hazera (Mother Hazera) for her selfless act for these hapless children.
“I have seen the worst side of life. Now, all I want is to provide a better future for all my children,” she said.
A short documentary was screened at the online event on educationalist Protiva Sangma, who passed away on August 6. Protiva, a doyen in her Garo community, worked tirelessly for education in her community. In the documentary, she said she dreamt of heading towards light from darkness through education.
Tasmima Hossain, editor of the fortnight magazine Anannya, presided over the online award giving event.