5 eminent women receive ‘Begum Rokeya Padak-2020’
Five prominent female personalities have received the Begum Rokeya Padak-2020 for their outstanding contributions in society and women empowerment.
The recipients of the prestigious award are - Dr Shireen Akhter in education, Colonel Dr Nazma Begum in women's emancipation, Monjulika Chakma in socio-economic development, Begum Mushtari Shafi in literature and culture, and Farida Akter in women's rights categories.
The award ceremony was held at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy auditorium today.
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As in earlier years, the Ministry of Children and Women Affairs organised the event.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the event virtually.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, on behalf of the prime minister, handed over the awards, medals and cheques to the awardees or their representatives.
"Begum Rokeya Day" is being observed today marking the 140th birth and 88th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain, the pioneer for women's rights in the subcontinent.
The government introduced the Begum Rokeya Padak in 1995, which is conferred on five eminent women every year, in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the empowerment of women and highlighting of women's issues in society.
Begum Rokeya was a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educationist and social activist, widely regarded as the pioneer of women's education in the Indian subcontinent during the period of British rule.
