Dhaka, Dec 09 (V7N) — Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus presented the prestigious Begum Rokeya Padak-2024 to four remarkable women for their significant contributions to society, women's education, and empowerment. The award ceremony was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, commemorating the 144th birth and 92nd death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.

The recipients of this year’s Begum Rokeya Padak are:

1. Parveen Hasan – An educationist and human rights activist, Parveen Hasan is the Chairperson of Transparency International Bangladesh and Vice Chancellor of Central Women's University.

2. Taslima Akhtar – A Bangladeshi labour and women's rights activist, Taslima is also a celebrated photographer known for capturing social struggles.

3. Rani Hamid – Bangladesh’s first female international chess master and a pioneer in the country's chess scene.

4. Shirin Parvin Haque – The founder of Nari Paksha, a women's rights organisation advocating for equality and justice.

During his speech, Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed deep admiration for Begum Rokeya's legacy, emphasizing the nation's pride in honouring her memory and the outstanding achievements of this year’s awardees. He reiterated the importance of empowering women and fostering gender equality to build a more just and progressive society.

The event concluded with a call to carry forward Begum Rokeya's vision of a society where women and men stand as equals.

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