My Ekushey Padak salutes the strength of Bangladeshi women: Rokeya Sultana
City Desk :
Acclaimed Bangladeshi artist and art educator Professor Rokeya Sultana has recently been honored with the Ekushey Padak 2025 in painting, recognising her lifelong contribution to the country’s artistic landscape.
On this International Women’s Day, her achievement stands as a testament to the power of creativity and resilience in shaping Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.
The nation’s first female artist to win major awards at the National Art Exhibition, the prestigious Asian Art Biennale, and numerous other prestigious art competitions; the first female student at the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art to enroll in and finish her Master’s programme at Vishwa Bharati University in Shantiniketan, India – Professor Rokeya Sultana is highly regarded as a pioneering artist and art educator, reports UNB.
In addition to bringing fame and respect to the country, her artistic endeavours have encouraged future generations of artists to seek careers in the field.
Receiving the Ekushey Padak, the nation’s second-highest civilian award, Rokeya Sultana recently spoke to UNB and expressed deep gratitude, dedicating the award to the women of Bangladesh.
“Our women have been working tirelessly at various levels of society, but many are unable to cope with various setbacks.
If my art and overall creative endeavors can add even a small step to this journey, I will feel blessed; and thus, I dedicated my Ekushey Padak to the women in various roles at home and abroad who are presenting Bangladesh to the world,” she told UNB.
During her felicitation speech on February 20 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium after receiving the Ekushey Padak from Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the artist said: “I am deeply grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for honoring me with the Ekushey Padak, and also to those who nominated me. At this moment of achievement, I deeply remember my mother, Mohsena Khatun, and father, Chowdhury Abdul Ghaffar, a heroic freedom fighter – they sowed the seeds of my intense love for art. Despite all odds, they gave me the opportunity to walk this path.”
She credits much of her success to her mentors at Dhaka Fine Arts Institute and Santiniketan, particularly Mohammad Kibria, a direct student of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin.
“A special place in my heart belongs to Kibria Sir, who was not only a teacher but also a father figure, and it is such an honor that he was once awarded this same title (the Ekushey Padak).
These are the people who gave me strength, and I also tried to give that strength to my art and my daughter,” she stated while receiving the award.
For Rokeya Sultana, art is a lifelong journey – one that embodies both victory and struggle. Her Ekushey Padak 2025 stands as a recognition of this journey, as well as a tribute to the resilience of women across Bangladesh and beyond.