Begum Rokeya. File photo

By Md Mamun Islam

 
RANGPUR, Dec 9, 2025 (BSS) - Pairaband village, the birthplace of Begum Rokeya, a prominent woman, philosopher, writer, educationist, social activist and advocate for women's rights, has turned festive marking the Rokeya Day- 2025.

 
Today, hundreds of people of all ages and walks of life have gathered in Pairaband. They are paying due respect and homage to this great woman and have made the village a place of inspiration for the advancement of women.

 
Begum Rokeya struggled all through her life for establishing women's rights, freedom, education, empowerment and economic emancipation creating a vigorous women renaissance in the then conservative British-ruled colonial society. 
 

She was born in village Pairaband of Rangpur district on December 9 in 1880 and died on the same day in 1932 in Kolkata.

 
The birth and death anniversaries of Begum Rokeya have been officially celebrated as Rokeya Day since 1994 in the village of Pairaband, the birthplace of this unparalleled woman of the subcontinent. 

 
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the district administration is observing the Rokeya Day- 2025 from today with three-day colorful programmes at her birthplace village of Pairaband in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur.

 
Besides, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) is observing the Rokeya Day- 2025 with daylong colorful programmes.
 
The celebration of Rokeya Day this time takes on special significance after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between BRUR and Bangla Academy today to hand over the management of Begum Rokeya Smritikendra in Pairaband village to BRUR.
 
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul Ahsan inaugurated observance of the three-day observance programmes of Begum Rokeya Day-2025 by placing of wreaths at Begum Rokeya Smritistambha in Pairaband village, hoisting of the national flag and inauguration of the Rokeya Fair-2025 at 10:30 am today. 

 
The inaugural day programmes included milad mehfil, prayers, spontaneous blood donation and blood group tests, screening of documentary films, followed by discussion and staging of drama by artists of 'Kompon Shilpi Gosthi' on the inaugural day. 

 
On December 10, drawing, poem recitation, essay writing and debate competitions for school students in three categories and screening of documentary films on women empowerment and cultural evening will be organised. 

 
On December 11, the final rounds of debate competitions followed by discussion on 'Begum Rokeya's Thoughts and Current Perspectives on Women's Progress', distribution of prizes and medals and cultural functions will be organised at Pairaband village.

 
Divisional Commissioner Md Shahidul Islam will attend the discussion and distribution of prizes and medals and cultural functions distribution and closing ceremony of the three-day Begum Rokeya Day-2025 observance programmes as the chief guest.

 
With the Deputy Commissioner in the chair, Rangpur Range DIG Aminul Islam, Associate of the Department of History and Archaeology of BRUR Dr Md Moniruzzaman and Mithapukur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Parvez will attend the closing ceremony as special guests.

 
Talking to BSS, BRUR Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Showkat Ali said Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was a pioneer of Bengali women's awakening. 

 
She was not just a dream for women in a traditional society. She was a beacon of liberation. Not just a hopeless object; a refuge of intense hope. She dedicated her talent, thinking and strength to the development of womenfolk in the 20th century in her work.

 
She established schools and various associations for women in the then conservative colonial society. 

 
"|She took up the pen in literary writing with intellectual effort. Throughout all her literature, there is a desire for women's liberation which is still equally relevant in the existing social system of Bangladesh," the Vice-chancellor said.

 
Professor of the Department of Bengali of BRUR Dr Tuhin Wadud said that because of Begum Rokeya's extraordinary contributions, women today have advanced significantly in education, politics and business, proving their capability alongside men. 

 
Begum Rokeya was the first woman to realize the absolute necessity of ensuring education and human rights of women for their true development and civilized dignity in order to achieve sustainable national development.
 

"Our women still have a long way to go to realize Rokeya's dream. More initiatives should be taken to preserve Rokeya's memory. Just giving speeches on December 9 is not enough, real efforts are needed," he added.