Bangladesh is observing Rokeya Day today, Tuesday, 9 December, marking the 145th birth anniversary and the 93rd death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain—one of the most influential champions of women’s liberation, education, and social justice in South Asia. Her birth and death falling on the same day has transformed 9 December into a symbolic and nationally celebrated occasion.
Begum Rokeya was born in 1880 in Pairabondh, Rangpur, during a period when women’s participation in public life was severely restricted. Defying the constraints of her time, she advocated passionately for women’s education and equal rights. Her visionary thought, powerful writing, and institution-building efforts laid the foundation for the modern women’s rights movement in the region. She passed away on 9 December 1932 in Kolkata, leaving behind a legacy of courage and enlightenment.
To mark Rokeya Day, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus released a commemorative statement highlighting her historic contribution. He emphasised that Begum Rokeya played a defining role in leading women “from darkness to light,” energising society through her relentless pursuit of justice and equality. She was a revolutionary thinker who rejected the oppressive norms of her era and envisioned a society where women could learn, work, and live with freedom and dignity.
Throughout her life, Rokeya used literature as a tool of resistance. Her essays, short stories, and satirical works challenged patriarchal traditions and exposed the injustices women faced. Her widely celebrated utopian story Sultana’s Dream imagined a world where gender roles were inverted and women held power—an idea far ahead of its time. Her works remain essential reading for scholars of feminism, gender studies, and South Asian history.
Her declaration, “We are one half of society. If we remain fallen, how will society rise?” remains one of the most quoted lines in the history of women’s movements in Bangladesh. It encapsulates her core belief that national progress is impossible without the advancement and equal participation of women.
In honour of her contributions, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has organised the annual Rokeya Padak ceremony today at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The award recognises women who have made impactful contributions in areas such as education, rights, activism, and social transformation. This year’s recipients of the Rokeya Padak 2025 are four exceptional women: Ruvana Rakib (Women’s Education and Research), Kalpana Akter (Women’s and Labour Rights), Nabila Idris (Human Rights), and Rituparna Chakma (Women’s Advancement in Sports).
The Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, will serve as the chief guest at the event, with Sharmin S. Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, presiding over the programme. Government bodies, private organisations, and academic institutions across the country are also organising various programmes such as discussions, seminars, cultural events, and exhibitions to honour Rokeya’s legacy.
Rokeya Day stands as a powerful reminder of how one woman’s courage reshaped the future of generations. It is not only a commemoration of the past but also a call to recognise the ongoing struggles for gender equality. Begum Rokeya’s teachings continue to inspire activists, educators, and reformers today, urging society to uphold the principles of fairness, equal opportunity, and human dignity.