Begum Rokeya Day will be observed on Tuesday to honor Begum Rokeya, a Bengali writer, educator, social activist, and advocate of women’s rights.
Every year, officials of the Rangpur district and upazila administration become busy to prepare for the observance a month in advance in Pairaband, Rangpur, her birthplace. Washing, painting and cleaning work is currently underway at her dilapidated residence and the adjoining memorial centre.
This year, a joint discussion programme will be held at the university under the initiative of Bangla Academy and Begum Rokeya University. For the first time in many years, a sewing training centre for distressed women has been set up at the memorial centre, along with arrangements for art and music training for girls and teenagers from disadvantaged communities. The Bangla Academy has announced that the facilities will be inaugurated on Wednesday.
Although a seven-day programme has been undertaken this year, no significant initiative has been taken by the authorities to preserve Rokeya’s memory. The house and the memorial centre—both on the verge of collapse—are deteriorating fast.
During a visit to Pairaband village of Mithapukur upazila, where the pioneer of women’s awakening was born, local residents, students and people from different professions said that the beautiful Begum Rokeya Memorial Centre was built at a cost of Tk 5 crore during the tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to preserve Rokeya’s legacy, rehabilitate disadvantaged women, and facilitate research on her life and works. However, after the BNP came to power in 2001, the centre was shut down and salaries of its officials and staff were stopped.
Although an initiative was taken to reopen the centre during the caretaker government of Moinuddin–Fakhruddin in 2008, it was not implemented. Later, a tug-of-war began between the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Bangla Academy over control of the centre. Three officials and employees filed a writ petition in the High Court. Eventually, the Supreme Court directed that the responsibility be handed over to the Bangla Academy and that the officials and employees be included in the revenue budget with their arrears cleared.
Rokeya researcher Rafiqul Islam Dulal, general secretary of the Begum Rokeya Memorial Sangsad, said that although Bangla Academy took over the entire complex in 2018 following the Supreme Court verdict, the memorial centre has still not reopened even after seven years.
He alleged that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has not allocated any funds to observe Begum Rokeya Day this year, which he described as unfortunate. He added that people of Pairaband and the broader Rangpur region have long been demanding that Begum Rokeya’s grave be brought from Kolkata to Pairaband, but no initiative has been taken by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs despite repeated appeals.
Although the memorial centre has been closed for seven years, no work has been done except the appointment of an officer and an assistant librarian. A library exists, but without any books, and no steps have been taken to promote research on Begum Rokeya.
Due to lack of renovation since the complex was built 15 years ago, plaster is peeling off the walls, the Drishti Nandan Auditorium is deteriorating, cracks have developed in several parts of the building and valuable items are being damaged. The main building, auditorium, guest house and other facilities require urgent renovation, officials acknowledge.
The same situation prevails at Begum Rokeya’s ancestral home. No new development or memorial installation has been done for a long time. Neglect and lack of maintenance have left the residence on the brink of collapse. Visitors from across the country expressed frustration and disappointment after seeing the dilapidated residence and the closed memorial centre. According to an employee, the number of visitors has dropped drastically over the past two years.
Begum Rokeya University teacher and researcher Dr. Tuhin Wadud and Rokeya researcher Dr. Shwashat Bhattacharya said that because of Begum Rokeya’s extraordinary contributions, women today have advanced significantly in education, politics and business, proving their capability alongside men. But they stressed that women still have far to go. They expressed anger over the lack of initiatives to preserve Rokeya’s memory, saying mere speeches on December 9 are not enough—real, sustainable efforts are needed.
When contacted, Abid Karim Munna, officer-in-charge of the memorial centre, said that this year training programmes for destitute women, as well as art and music classes, have been arranged at the centre.
