Rokia Afzal laid to rest

Iconic business personality Rokia Afzal Rahman was laid to rest at the capital's Banani graveyard yesterday.

Before this, Her namaz-e-janaza was held at Gulshan Azad Masjid after Asr prayers. Her family members, business association leaders, and well wishers took part in it.

Rokia's vision and entrepreneurial prowess left an indelible mark on the country's business community. She was determined to help women entrepreneurs break barriers and succeed in a male-dominated business world.

She passed away at the Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore on Wednesday at the age of 82. She is survived by her daughters Erum Mariam and Faiza Rahman, and her son Imran Faiz Rahman.

Her children and a grandchild arrived in Dhaka with her body late Thursday.

The business community, women entrepreneurs and noted individuals from all sectors are mourning for her and paying their tributes.

Those who paid their respects at her Gulshan residence include Rokia Afzal Rahman's younger sister Khadija Afzal, Transcom Group Chief Executive Officer Simeen Rahman, Transcom Group Head of Strategy and Transformation Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, MIDAS board member Parveen Mahmud, Newspapers Owners' Association of Bangladesh President AK Azad, and The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam.

Chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue Prof Rehman Sobhan, eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, and Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman took part in janaza.

Rokia was the vice president of the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh. She was the chairman of RR and Arlinks groups of companies. She was also the chairman of MIDAS Financing Limited.

She was the chairperson of Mediaworld Ltd, the owning company of The Daily Star, and a director of Mediastar Limited, the owning company of Prothom Alo.

She undertook initiatives in different sectors and left a lasting legacy in the media, insurance, real estate, and financial sectors. In 2001, she became an adviser to a caretaker government.

Rokia's career started with a job at a commercial bank in 1962.

At the time, women working in banks was a rarity and Rokia became one of the very few female bankers. Within two years, she became the first woman bank manager of the country and also led the first female-only branch in Dhaka.

In 1980, she ventured into the farming industry.