Readers’ Forum

Int’l Women’s Day
The country observed International Women’s Day on Sunday. On that day, seminars and symposiums were arranged in the city to discuss the significance thereof, and television channels telecast live programme. But I do not know whether the name of Begum Rokeya, who dedicated her life for the expansion of education in an ultra-conservative society, came into discussion as reference. She established a school in Calcutta and moved from pillar to post and post to pillar in search of students. She did not stop her mission despite fierce opposition from the conservative families.
We understand the reason of our friends’ unresponsiveness to her contribution.
Begum Rokeya maintained hizab and fought against fanatics. She criticised oppressive social customs, wrote a number of genres, short stories, poems, essays, novels and satirical writings, developing a distinctive literary style, characterized by creativity, logic and a wry sense of humour. These writings were call to rise against injustice and oppressions done to women for ages.
Needless to say that Rokeya received massive supports from her elder brother and husband in her journey to spread education.
 For this, we salute her and call upon the Noble Peace Committee of Sweden to consider her name for Noble Prize in education.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka