The 108th birth anniversary of late poet Sufia Kamal will be observed across the country today. A pioneer in movement for women emancipation, Sufia Kamal was born on June 20, 1911 in Shayestabad Nawab family in Barishal. On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages paying profound respect to the memory of poet Sufia Kamal, reports BSS.
“Sufia Kamal had struggled throughout her life for the emancipation of women from prejudice,” the President said in his message. Sufia Kamal was the founder president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and she had active role in all progressive movements in the country, Hamid said, adding that her struggle was for establishing a society with equal rights of men and women.
“Her life and literary works inspire the new generations deeply and she will remain as source of inspiration for the young generations forever,” said President Abdul Hamid. He prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of the poet. In her message Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “I convey my profound respect to the memory of Begum Sufia Kamal, one of the pioneers of progressive, democratic and women emancipation movements in Bangladesh, on the occasion of her 108th birth anniversary.”
The Prime Minister said Sufia Kamal was the image of a traditional Bengali woman and on the other side, she played an uncompromising role in every movement in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina recalled her role in the movement against banning Tagore songs by Pakistan government in 1961, language movement in 1952, non- cooperation movement and the Liberation War in 1971 and all democratic and cultural movements in the country.
She said Sufia Kamal’s role inspired the pro-liberation forces when the distortion of history began in the country after the assassination of the greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. The Prime Minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Begum Sufia Kamal.
Different social and cultural organisations have taken various programmes marking the anniversary. Begum Sufia Kamal died in Dhaka on November 20 in 1999. She was buried at Azimpur Graveyard with full state honour. Her remarkable works are ‘Sanjher Maya, ‘Maya Kajal’, ‘Mon O Jibon’, ‘Shanti O Pranthana,’ ‘Udatto Brithibi’ and ‘Diwan’.
