Sufia Kamal's anniversary of death today

In a statement, Awami League President Shiekh Hasina said Sufia Kamal has struggled throughout her life to establish the rights of women and to make the society aware of violence against women.

She was a litterateur as well as a women leader and activist in every democratic movement of the country. She was among those who raised strong voice against the murder of Bangabandhu and his family in 1975.

The ideal and activities of Sufia Kamal will lead the countrymen to move for a better and progressive Bangladesh, the statement added.

Sufia Kamal was born in 1911 at Shaistabad in Barisal. In 1926 the first poem of Sufia Kamal was published in 'Saugat'. Her prose and poems drew notice of the intellectual society. She wrote many poems for the children. Some of her works were translated into English and Russian.

Sufia Kamal's work reflected the struggles to preserve the Bengali language and culture and to fight Pakistani rulers. During the War of Liberation in 1971, she worked to help injured women.

She also worked with Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee that is trying to bring the 1971war criminals and collaborators to justice.

In later life, she made women's rights her top priority and headed Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, a women rights organisation.

Sufia Kamal was accorded many national and international awards. She received 40 medals including the "Ekushe Padak", Bangla Academy Prize and Lenin Prize.