Dr Jubedia Khatoon, a distinguished gynecologist and pioneering feminist social reformer, passed away on January 3 at the age of 95.
Her lifelong commitment to the well-being of society was encapsulated in her motto: “Healthy citizens for a healthy nation.”
Born to renowned educationist Osman Gani in 1829, Dr Khatoon was a graduate of Kolkata's Lady Brabourne College and made history as the first woman from East Pakistan to receive the prestigious MRCOG qualification from London. Her early years at Kolkata's Beltola Girl’s School exposed her to the communal riots of 1946.
In 1957, Dr Khatoon began her medical career as an Assistant Surgeon at Dhaka Medical College, before dedicating several decades to teaching and practicing as a professor and surgeon at Rajshahi Medical College. There, she also established the first private gynecological clinic in Hatem Khan, Rajshahi, and helped deliver thousands of healthy babies across both Pakistan and Bangladesh. She mentored generations of medical students and was the founder of the Dr Jubeida Khatoon Nursing Institute in Rajshahi.
In addition to her medical achievements, Dr Khatoon served as chairman of the Rajshahi Diabetic Association, Rajshahi municipality commissioner, and played an instrumental role in the local community as an officer of the Rajshahi Association and as the chair of the managing committee for Kadirganj Primary School.
Dr Khatoon was married to the late Zafar Imam, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Olympic Committee. She is survived by her daughter, renowned anthropologist Nehraz Mahmud.
Dr Khatoon’s legacy lives on through her countless contributions to both medicine and society. She was laid to rest at Hatem Khan Graveyard, Rajshahi.
