Natural Photography In Bangladesh. Part-25

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a social reformer and pioneer of women's awakening. Rokeya's father Zahiruddin Muhammad Abu Ali Haider Saber was the last zamindar of his dynasty. Rokeya was born in 160 in this zamindar dynasty at Payraband in Rangpur. Rokeya died in Calcutta in 1932. As Rokeya was born and died on the same day, December 9, the day is celebrated nationally as 'Begum Rokeya Day'. Today is Wednesday and the day will be celebrated all over the country.

Establishment of Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in 1909, formation of women's organization Anjumane-Khawatine Islam in 1918, Rokeya in various books written in Bengali and English have established issues of women's awakening, equality of men and women. However, Rokeya's ancestral Vita and Begum Rokeya memorial in Payrabandha is in a dilapidated condition due to neglect. Rokeya's relatives are keeping Rokeya's memory alive on their own initiative.

Mansura Hossain, a senior reporter of Prothom Alo, and Moinul Islam, a photographer from Rangpur, took the pictures while visiting Rokeya's ancestral home and memorial center in Payrabandha.

Begum Rokeya Memorial Center built to hold the memory of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.

In front of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain's ancestral Vita in Khord Muradpur of Rangpur's Payraband Union, some female students are looking at books before going to study coaching.

The brass Rokeya sculpture in the grounds of Begum Rokeya Memorial Center seems to indicate the presence of Rokeya.