The Dhaka University has posthumously honoured eminent journalist and former Awami League lawmaker AN Mahfuza Khatun Baby Moudud with ‘Bangabandhu Gold Medal’.
Dhaka University’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Research Institute for Peace and Liberty gave the award through holding a ceremony at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the campus on Thursday (September 21, 2023).
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni attended the ceremony as the chief guest with Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair. Pro-VC (admin) of the university Prof Dr Mohammad Samad, Director of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Research Institute for Peace and Liberty Prof Fakhrul Alam and Baby Moudud’s son Rabiul Hasan Ovi also spoke on the occasion, among others.
At the event, Dr Dipu Moni handed over gold ‘Bangabandhu Gold Medal’ (posthumous) to Rabiul Hasan Ovi, while Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman handed over certificate to him.
Dhaka University introduced the ‘Bangabandhu Gold Medal’, which is given for special contributions to education, culture, science and literature. The award will be given each year by the Bangabandhu Research Institute for Peace and Liberty.
A panel formed for the nomination on March 27 finalised the decision that Baby Moudud will be honoured with ‘Bangabandhu Gold Medal’ this year.
Baby Maudud completed her honours from Department of Bangla of Dhaka University in 1970 and MA in 1971.
She served as the international president emeritus of the Toronto-based Commonwealth Journalists Association and played a vital role in the country’s Liberation War in 1971 by collecting medicine for freedom fighters, arranging shelter for helpless women and communicating with foreign journalists.
Born on Jun 23 in 1948 in Kolkata, Baby Maudud worked as a journalist for a long time. She died after a long battle with cancer on July 25 in 2014.
After beginning her career as a journalist in the 60s as a reporter for Daily Ittefaq, she worked for the BBC, Daily Sangbad and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha before joining bdnews24.com in 2009.
She was active in progressive politics and became an elected MP to a reserved women’s seat in the ninth parliament as a candidate for the Awami League. She wrote regularly on various issues and published several books, mostly for children.
