The 22nd death anniversary of eminent poet Sufia Kamal, founding president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and a pioneer of Bengali women's emancipation, observed on Saturday (Nov 20), local media reported.
Sufia Kamal died in Dhaka on Nov 20 in 1999. She buried in Azimpur graveyard with state honour.
Her remarkable works are ‘Shajher Maya’, ‘Maya Kajal’, ‘Mon O Jibon’, ‘Shanti O Pranthana,’ ‘Udatto Brithibi’ and ‘Diwan’.
On the occasion of her death anniversary, Manabadhikar Sangskritik Foundation held a virtual discussion recalling her contribution to Bangla literature.
Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote led by its president artiste Rafiqul Alam and general secretary Arun Sarkar Rana, placed floral wreaths on the grave of Sufia Kamal at Azimpur. It also held a discussion near Azimpur Zam-e Mosque.
Born on Jun 20 in 1911 in an aristocratic family, known as the Nabab family of Shayestabad in Barishal, Begum Sufia Kamal dedicated her whole life to promote women liberty, progressive thinking and non-communal politics.
She was an activist of the historic Language Movement of 1952 and also played a significant role in the Great War of Liberation.
She was also an excellent organiser. In 1956, she organised ‘Kochi-Kachar Mela’, an organisation of children, and organised the Bangladesh Mohila Parishad in 1970.
Sufia Kamal won more than 50 awards for her contributions to the literature including ‘Ekushey Padak’, ‘Swadhinata Dibash Padak’, ‘Bangla Academy Padak’, ‘Soviet Lenin Award’, ‘Begum Rokeya Padak’, ‘Jatiyo Kobita Porishad Award’.
