Today is Rokeya Day, the forerunner of women's awakening
Published: 09 December 2025 :
The 144th birth and 92nd death anniversary of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a pioneer of Bengali women's education and social reformer who ensured equal rights for women and men, is being celebrated with due dignity as 'Rokeya Day' today, Tuesday (December 9). This year's theme of the day is: 'Let's unite to end violence against women and girls, ensure digital safety'.
On the occasion of the day, the prestigious Rokeya Medal will be presented to four distinguished women at a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital this morning.
Names of the awardees: Women's Education (Research): Ruvana Rakib; Women's Rights (Labor Rights): Kalpana Akhter; Human Rights: Nabila Idris; Women's Awakening (Sports): Rituparna Chakma.
They are being given this medal in recognition of their special contributions to women's education, women's rights, human rights, and women's awakening, on the recommendation of the National Awards Advisory Council Committee.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Principal Advisor to the Interim Government, will be present as the chief guest at the award ceremony and discussion. Sharmeen S. Murshid, Advisor to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, will preside over the event.
Recalling Rokeya's contribution to the spread of women's education, Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said in a message that Rokeya played a courageous role in the spread of education from this realization that education is the key to the advancement of women who are backward in a conservative social system. He further said that the interim government is working for the empowerment of women in the continuation of the women's development started by Rokeya. The Chief Advisor congratulated the awardees and wished the overall success of all the programs organized on the occasion of Rokeya Day-2025.
To mark the day, various programs have been taken up by government and private initiatives across the country, including the capital Dhaka. Various media outlets and organizations have published special leaflets and posters.
Birth and Struggle : Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was born on December 9, 1880, in a secluded village in Pairaband, Mithapukur Upazila, Rangpur. Since formal education for girls was not a common practice in Muslim society, she secretly learned Bengali, Urdu, Arabic and Persian from her elder brother. Later, with the encouragement of her husband Syed Sakhawat Hossain, she expanded her education and worked for the expansion of women's education until her death.
Death: This noble woman died on December 9, 1932.
Literature and Recognition: He is known as an essayist, novelist, literary figure and social reformer. His notable works are Motichur, Sultanar Swapna, Padmarag and Abrodhabasini. In 2004, he was selected sixth in the BBC Bangla survey of the greatest Bengalis of all time.
Rangpur program: This morning, at Pairaband in Mithapukur, Rangpur, a tribute will be paid at the altar of Rokeya Sakhawat's birthplace, a discussion meeting will be held, and a painting and sewing training program for children and teenagers and women will be inaugurated. In addition, there will be a day-long program including a rally, discussion meeting, Milad and Doa Mahfil organized by Rokeya University.
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