Sufia Kamal a voice against communalism
Speakers tell programme marking poet's 106th birth anniversary
Poet Begum Sufia Kamal was one of those who stood against communalism, said speakers at a programme on Tuesday.
A torchbearer of justice and equality, Sufia, who is regarded as Janani Shahashika (the courageous mother), had worked all her life for women emancipation and pioneered democratic, social and cultural movements, they said.
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the programme, which include a memorial speech and award ceremony, at Bangla Academy on the occasion of the poet's 106th birth anniversary. Sufia Kamal was the founder president of BMP.
Awards were given to Aroti Rani Biswas, a fisherwoman of Rajbari; Motaher Nasrin, agricultural entrepreneur; under-16 national women football team; and Shabana Akhtar who resisted her own child marriage in Rangpur.
Anupam Sen, social scientist and vice chancellor of Premier University, gave the memorial speech at the programme presided over by Fouzia Moslem, vice-president of BMP.
Director General of Bangla Academy Prof Shamsuzzaman Khan, among others, was present.