The Crime Desk: Today is December 9, Rokeya Day. In a patriarchal and hegemonic society, women did not have the right to stand up. But in this society, women will also speak about their rights, dream, and realize their dreams. This is the dream that the pioneer of women’s awakening, Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, had in her book ‘Sultana’s Dream’. Begum Rokeya inspired women to walk on the path of their dreams.
On the occasion of the day, the speakers said these things at the ‘Sultana’s Dream’ reading celebration program organized at the Liberation War Museum auditorium in the capital on Sunday. The Sultana’s Dream audiobook was inaugurated at the program.
Sara Zaker, trustee and member secretary of the Liberation War Museum, delivered the welcome speech at the program. She said that Begum Rokeya recognized the inherent strength of women. She dreamed that women would one day be exposed to the light of education and science. Whatever men do, women will also do the same. Women will reach worthy positions with their talent and intelligence. The subcontinent also became synonymous with women’s liberation after Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain and Sultana’s Dream. As a pioneer in Bengali Muslim education, Rokeya created the context for women’s education to move forward. Mofidul Haque, Trustee of the Liberation War Museum, also spoke at the event and Trustee Dr. Sarwar Ali expressed his gratitude.
In 1905, Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s ‘Sultana’s Dream’ was published. This year, Sultana’s Dream has been recognized in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Register at the proposal of the Liberation War Museum. To celebrate this recognition, the Liberation War Museum has taken up a special reading celebration program in collaboration with various public libraries in Dhaka. UNESCO Representative and Office Head in Bangladesh Suzanne Vaiz was present as a guest at the program at the Liberation War Museum auditorium. At the event, actress Trapa Majumdar recited from Sultana’s dream in Bengali and Warda Ashraf recited in English.
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was born on December 9, 1880, in an aristocratic family in the village of Pairaband in Rangpur district. She passed away on this day in 1932.
President Md. Shahabuddin and Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus gave separate messages on the occasion of Rokeya Day.
President Md. Shahabuddin said in his message, inspired by the success of Begum Rokeya’s work and life philosophy, the women of Bangladesh will move forward with everyone on the path to achieving the desired goals – I hope this on Begum Rokeya Day.
The Chief Advisor said in his message, I hope that women like Begum Rokeya will work from their respective positions to improve the condition and position of the disadvantaged, oppressed and helpless women of the society and realize Begum Rokeya’s dream.
