8:58 AM
The 8th of March holds a special significance for me, it is also International Woman's day (IWD). International Woman's Day is a day to celebrate the progress that is being made in addressing woman's rights across the globe and it is an opportunity to honor the achievements made by woman in the economic, social, political and global arena be it in the past or present. This year's UN theme for (IWD) is "Equality for woman is progress for all" and one particular name that comes to mind in the context of Bangladesh is Begum Rokeya (Rokuia Sakhawat Hussain) who believed in woman's rights and gender equality. She was one of the first female activists and social reformers to establish female education in an undivided Bengal in the early twentieth century. Renowned as a prolific writer, she wrote many articles, novels and short stories advocating the emancipation of woman.. Despite being born into a conservative upper class Bengali Muslim family. Begum Rokeya fought for gender equality and did not let the limitations that society put on her stop her. She is an inspiration to us all. International Woman's Day may come every year.
