A fighter till her last breath
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad president and freedom fighter Ayesha Khanam -- a guardian of the women's movement in Bangladesh, who dedicated her life to the rights of deprived, oppressed and disenfranchised women -- breathed her last early yesterday.
She was 74.
An integral part of the women's movement in Bangladesh, her message to her fellow countrywomen was to stand their own grounds and develop an uncompromising attitude so that they can take their own responsibilities and decisions.
"This has always been the way and is still the way. And this is the message given by Pritilata, this was also said by Ila Mitra, and this was the oath taken by Begum Rokeya," Ayesha told this correspondent in an earlier interview with The Daily Star.
Bangladesh Mohila Parisha (BMP) General Secretary Maleka Banu said, "She [Ayesha] was suffering from lung cancer and her condition deteriorated around 3:30am yesterday. She was taken to the BRB Hospital in the capital, where the on-duty doctor confirmed her death around 4:00am."
Her body was taken to BMP around 9:00am and later to Netrakona, where she was buried next to the grave of her late husband freedom fighter and engineer Mortuza Hasan in the family graveyard, said Maleka.
She added that after the namaz-e-janaza in Netrakona, Ayesha was given a guard of honour.
Ayesha Khanam was born in the village of Gabragati in Netrakona on October 18, 1947.
Former vice president of left-leaning organisation Bangladesh Chhatra Union, she was an active organiser of all progressive movements, including the 1962 student movement, 1969 mass upsurge and 1971 Liberation War.
In an interview with The Daily Star, she said that during the end of April 1971, she went across the border to Agartala, where she stayed at a camp for refugees and freedom fighters. There, she provided medical assistance to wounded freedom fighters after taking primary training on medical services.
"What has motivated me the most throughout the years is the heroics of women during the anti-colonial struggle in this subcontinent and their biographies. During my eight-month long stay at Agartala in '71, I met many women who were involved in the anti-colonial struggle and it drove me towards the women's movement."
After the Liberation War, there was scope for me to engage in national politics but instead I got involved in the women's movement after realising that even though many of my fellow activists were getting involved in politics, there was not enough prioritisation in protecting the rights of women."
In 1972, she joined BMP as a co-organising secretary.
Since then, she had been attending many national and international events, delivering speeches, organising for and with women, engaging in lobbying and advocacy, working for the end of violence against women and much more.
In 1984, she became the organising secretary of the same organisation followed by the general secretary in 1991. In 2008, she became the president of BMP.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed sorrow at the death of Ayesha Khanam.
In a condolence message, Hasina said that the country's women community has lost a genuine and brave compatriot at the death of the women's leader.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
President M Abdul Hamid also expressed shock and sorrow at her death and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed. He too conveyed his sympathy to the family.
Recalling her contribution to women empowerment with due respect, Abdul Hamid said her efforts will forever be remembered.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, Bangladesh Communist Party President Mujahidul Islam Selim and general secretary Mohammad Shah Alam; and Advocate Salma Ali, president of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971, also prayed for the departed soul and expressed sympathy to her family in separate statements.
Ayesha Khanam left behind her only daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.
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