She was born on December 9, 1880 at Pairaband village in Rangpur and passed away on the same date in 1932.
Begum Rokeya was a Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educationist, social activist, advocate of women's rights, and widely regarded as the pioneer of women's education in the Indian subcontinent, particularly Muslim women, during the time of the British rule.
The Women and Children Affairs Ministry, Begum Rokeya Foundation and various socio-cultural and political organisations arranged elaborate programmes marking the. Besides, Dhaka University’s Rokeya Hall organised a programme.
At a programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over prestigious Rokeya Padak among five women in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society and women empowerment.
This year, Begum Selina Khalek, Professor Shamsun Nahar, Papri Basu, Begum Akhtar Jahan and Dr Nurunnahar Faizunnesa (posthumously) received the Padak.