On August 14, 2025, at 3:30 PM, a discussion meeting was held with organizers from various organizations on the occasion of Rokeya Day, organized by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
The meeting was presided over by Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. The welcome speech was delivered by the organization’s General Secretary, Maleka Banu, while the concept paper was presented by its Publication Secretary, Saraban Tahura.
The statement on behalf of the organization was delivered by Joint General Secretary Shima Moslem. Participating in the open discussion were Sanghat’s Sohana Ahmed, Siam—a student from the Women and Gender Studies Department at Dhaka University, Tushar—a member of the Recitation Council, Mauree Abdullah from Agni Foundation, Isham from Nishongkhoch Foundation, Tasaffi Hossain from Bonhishikha, Jesmina Hossain from Pallima Mohila Parishad, Nusrat Jahan from Dhaka University Debating Society, and Dipty Shikdar and Lily Ara Parvin—officials from Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, among others.
At the end of the open discussion, members of the Dhaka University Recitation Society performed recitations and music.
To dispel the negative attitudes of young people regarding Rokeya, long-term awareness campaigns must be continued. Organizations can collectively organize regular seminars, and skill development programs for women should be implemented to keep Rokeya’s memory alive. At both the national and district levels, public performances such as plays or songs on women’s awakening should be arranged; film screenings can also be organized.
They further emphasized that to sustain Rokeya’s ideals, state-sponsored initiatives must be undertaken; every citizen must embrace gender equality; competitive programs for students should be arranged; large-scale campaigns should be organized through reels and shorts on social media; reading circles on Rokeya’s philosophy should be held; alongside a series of programs, training sessions for youth based on Rokeya’s life philosophy and ideals should be conducted; debate competitions should be arranged to counter the arguments of young people holding opposing views about Begum Rokeya.
Participants shared these opinions during the open discussion at the opinion-exchange meeting.
Dr. Fauzia Moslem said that the pace and nature of the women’s movement are not always the same. We are discussing Rokeya at a time when women have become highly skilled in various fields, yet we still need to reflect on Rokeya’s legacy. Although the women’s movement evolved into a social movement through multifaceted struggles since the British colonial period, it cannot be said that fundamental changes have occurred in women’s lives. Women are participating in movements, but they lack true partnership and life security. Rokeya spoke about women’s education, self-reliance, and resistance against patriarchy and fundamentalism—yet these issues remain unresolved.
In such a situation, she called upon everyone present to integrate Rokeya into the mainstream women’s movement by organizing gatherings, running campaigns on social media, and holding programs in Pairaband (Rokeya’s birthplace).
In her welcome address, General Secretary Maleka Banu stated that during this critical juncture of our national life, Rokeya and her feminist philosophy are facing multi-faceted attacks. Nearly two hundred years ago, Rokeya planted the idea in women’s minds about how to break free from socially constructed barriers, establish their own space, and live independently. Through her writings, she simultaneously challenged the prevailing superstitions and discriminatory practices in society that oppressed women. Her contributions to women’s liberation are undeniable.
While women today have achieved success in various fields, patriarchal dominance continues to hold them back. State policies play an extremely crucial role in establishing gender equality. In this context, today’s discussion has been organized to explore how the women’s movement can advance the cause of women’s rights by embracing Rokeya’s foresight, courage and organizational thinking while engaging the younger generation.
In the concept paper, the organization’s Publication Secretary Saraban Tahura stated that Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the pioneer of women’s awakening in Bengal, raised awareness among women by organizing them in movements for education and social liberation. Despite being born into a conservative society, she became self-educated and envisioned equal rights for secluded women, empowering them to participate in decision-making processes.
Beyond her writings, Rokeya guided social transformation through women’s emancipation by leading the activities of ‘Anjuman-e-Khawateen’ (Muslim Women’s Association). Her English work Sultana’s Dream recently gained international recognition by being included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register.
Tahura noted that while women today have achieved success in various fields, child marriage persists, property rights remain unrealized, and gender discrimination and misogynistic attitudes continue to prevail in society. She identified new challenges in the path of women’s liberation – the backlash against gender-sensitive reforms and attacks on Rokeya’s name and legacy.
To counter these anti-progressive forces, Tahura emphasized the need to:
1. Regularly engage with Rokeya’s struggle for women’s liberation
2. Keep her ideological spirit alive and visible
3. Expand the observance of Rokeya Day beyond December to make it more prominent year-round
She called for sustained efforts to uphold Rokeya’s vision in the ongoing fight for gender equality.
Joint General Secretary Shima Moslem said:
“Rokeya is our ideal, Rokeya is our weapon. She was not only a writer, but also an organizer and an activist. There is still much to learn about Rokeya. On the occasion of Rokeya Day, we must take multidimensional initiatives; we have to embrace Rokeya, internalize her, and apply her philosophy in our work.”
At the time, she also called upon every organization to take initiatives to implement programs centered around Rokeya from their respective fields.
The opinion exchange meeting was attended by representatives from Agni Foundation, Nishongkoch Foundation, Kormojibi Nari, Bohnishikha, students of Dhaka University, RAMRU, YouthNet Global, Jago Nari, Lal Shobuj Society, Shanghat, Praggashor, Bangladesh Shishu Kalyan Parishad, Dhaka University’s Recitation Society, Pollima Mohila Parishad, representatives from Aranyak Natya Dal, leaders from the central committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Secretaries, and officials. The event was conducted by the organization’s Program Officer, Tasnim Saima.
