Honouring the heroic life of Ayesha Khanam
In the 1970s, the idea of 'violence against women is a violation of human rights' did not exist. The issue gained importance through the women's movement in the '70s and '80s, and Ayesha Khanum made a significant contribution to the movement.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad acting president Dr Fauzia Moslem yesterday made the remarks at a virtual memorial programme yesterday for the recently0deceased president of the organisation Ayesha Khanam. A pioneer of the women's movement in Bangladesh, Khanam dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of deprived, oppressed and disenfranchised women, speakers said.
Ayesha Khanam, a freedom fighter, breathed her last on January 2. She was suffering from lung cancer.
Dr Fauzia Moslem presided over the programme, moderated by lawyer Dipty Rani Shikder.
The programme started with a one-minute silence in tribute to the memory of Ayesha Khanam, and Bula Osman, education and cultural affairs secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad who died yesterday.
Joint General Secretary of Mahila Parishad, Shima Moslem in her speech said, "Ayesha Khanam dedicated her entire life to women's movement, secularism and progressive ideals for the establishment of women's and human rights."
She recalled Ayesha Khanam's words, "Women's movement is a Nakshi Kantha. You and I cannot weave it alone. Rather, everyone has to weave something here."
Kaniz Fatema Togor, organizing secretary of Dhaka metropolitan committee of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, presented the biography of Ayesha Khanam at the event. She said that Ayesha Khanam was one of the active organisers of the student movement of 1962, the mass uprising of 1969, and liberation war in 1971. She participated in democratic, secular, human rights and progressive movements.
"In 1982, she joined Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and served as its organising secretary and general secretary. In 2008, she became the president of the organization," narrated Kaniz.
"She [Ayesha Khanam] played an important role in the political empowerment of women, prevention of violence against women, law reform movement, implementation of CEDAW and global women's movement," she added.
Jannatul Bakiya Keka, special correspondent of Channel I; Sebika Debnath, senior reporter of the Daily Bhorer Kagoj; Nazma Ara Begum Popy, project officer, Handicap International; Advocate Kamrunnahar, member of Naripokkho; Umme Salma Begum, gender adviser at Save the Children; Arpita Das, program coordinator of Manusher Jonno Foundation; Shahnaz Sumi, deputy director of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha; Zinat Ara Haque, executive direction of We Can; Mahbuba Akhter, deputy director of BLAST and Professor Sharmind Neelormi of Jahangirnagar University attended the programme among other activists, journalists and development workers.
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