Women power to the fore

The awardees of this year are Hamida Hossain (human rights), Selina Bahar Zaman (publishing commemorative books), Kumudini Hajong (movement) Taslima Mansoor (education), Shimoul Yousuff (acting), Aditi Mohsin (music), Yasmine Kabir (film), Rehana Kashem (business), Roksana Salam (fashion designing) and Captain Shahana (aviation).

Eminent educationist Professor Anisuzzaman handed out the awards as the chief guest of the programme. Among others Professor Sirajul Islam Chwodhury, Anannya Editor Tasmima Hossain, Quazi Madina and woman activist Sultana Kamal were also present at the programme.

Although Selina Bahar Zaman is a talented reciter and presenter, she is better known for editing and publishing commemorative books on eminent personalities. Her dedication, hardship and sincerely for this task is remarkable. Among the personalities she has profiled in her books are Zahur Hossain Chowdhury, Anwara Bahar Chowdhury, Shamsuddin Abul Kalam, Abdul Wahab Mahmud, Begum Shamsun Nahar Mahmud and Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.

Dr Hamida Hossain was one of the founders of the human rights organisation Ain O Shalish Kendra in 1986. Although she has no academic background in law, she works for human rights and has made tremendous contributions at national and international level. She has also worked to organise the women labourers and small industry workers so that they can get their rights. Among her important publications are No better Options? Industrial Women Workers in Bangladesh and From Crisis to Development .

Women leader Kumudini Hajong struggled to establish the rights of Hajong tribe in the 1940s. The active leader of Tonk Movement, Kumudini Hajong has worked to revive the ideals and memory of Hajong tribe all her life. At the age of 80, she still struggles to achieve her goal.

Dr Taslima Mansoor is the first ever woman Dean of any faculty in the local university of the country. She has taken several initiatives to revise the syllabus of the law department and producing researchers on law. Many of her write-ups on law and human rights have been published in national and international academic journals.

Business woman Rehana Kashem started out with only Taka 6,000 as her capital in 1983. Now she has established herself as a very successful businesswomen of the country. Her company Shatranj's yearly turnover is Taka 80 lakhs and she provides employment to about 700 women. She feels that women can be socially free only if they get economic freedom.

Captain Shahana has been in the news as being the first all-women-flight commander in the whole of South Asia. She has been flying planes since 1993. Captain of F-28 plane, Shahana thinks that it is not important whether a man or a woman is flying the plane, it is important to take the passengers to their destinations safe and sound.

Shimoul Yousuff has been performing on stage since 1963. She is a versatile talent in the field of music and theatre. Music direction and costume designing for plays are her interests as well. She has acted in 600 Shows of different plays like Hat Hodai, Kittonkhola, keramat mangal, Shakuntala, Muntasir Fantasy and many more.

Yasmin Kabir has been a celebrated name on the silver screen recently. Her selection of subjects and originality in documentary films have made her a prominent name both nationally and internationally. Her well-acclaimed directorial ventures are Sheema Chowdhury, Parabashi Mon Amar and Swadhinota..

Aditi Mohsin is a talented Tagore Singer of recent years. She has been acclaimed by both the Indian and Bangladeshi music lovers as she performed in many programmes at home and abroad. Now a music teacher of Chhayanaut, Aditi performed Tagore songs in the much-discussed film Chhinnopathra by Dr Nawajish Ahmed.

Aditi Mohsin rendered songs while Shimoul Yousuff performed a piece of acting at the programme. The 38-minute documentary Swadionta by Yasmin Kabir was also screened at the end of the programme.

The awardees expressed their happiness and gratitude to the organisers. They said that the award, an outstanding honour and recognition for their contribution,would inspire future generations to better heights.