Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said it is unfortunate that even after 100 years, the nation has not produced another Begum Rokeya. “We could not materialise the guidance she gave us or the dreams she showed us. We talked, but we could not move forward,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing the Begum Rokeya Day 2025 programme as the chief guest at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Tuesday (December 9).
The chief adviser said observing Begum Rokeya’s birth anniversary is not only a way to remember her but also an opportunity to reflect on the failures that held the nation back. “Why did we fail? Why has another Begum Rokeya not emerged among us in 100 years—someone who would show us the path and remind us of the direction we need to take?” he asked.
Referring to the past, he said, “What happened in these 100 years? How much have we progressed? In 1974, a devastating famine struck the country. People died on the streets, and we watched in silence. We did nothing. Many of the victims were women and the elderly. According to some estimates, 1.5 million people died in that famine.”
The Chief Adviser also presented the Begum Rokeya Padak to four recipients this year.
The awardees are Dr Rubhana Rakib in the category of Women’s Education (Research), Kalpana Akter in the category of Women’s Rights (Labour), Dr Nabila Idris in the category of Human Rights, and Rituporna Chakma in the category of Women’s Awakening (Sports).