The proposal to change the name of the newly established Sylhet Medical University to 'Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University', after the wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been approved. Based on the application on November 28, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust approved it on Thursday. Earlier, Habibur Rahman Habib, MP for Sylhet-3 constituency, proposed to change the name of Sylhet Medical University to Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib in the parliament on September 16. On Oct 25, SMU vice-chancellor Morshed Ahmed Chowdhury also placed a proposal to rename the university in its third syndicate meeting and the syndicate members of the medical university gave their consent to the proposal. SMU VC Morshed Ahmed Chowdhury thanked the trust's president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving this approval. He also extended his thankfulness to Foreign Minister Abdul Momen and Sylhet-3 constituency MP Habibur Rahman Habib.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday handed over the newly- introduced "Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib Award" to five women in recognition of their outstanding contributions to different sectors. Read: Even as President’s son, Kamal led a simple life: Hasina The recipients are freedom fighter from Brahmanbaria Prof Momtaz Begum (posthumous) in Independence and Liberation War category; Tangail's Joya Pati (posthumous) in Education, Culture and Sports; Pabna's Nurunnahar Begum in Agriculture and Rural Development; freedom fighter from Cumilla Principal Jobeda Khatun Parul in Politics; and Netrakona's Nadira Jahan (Surma Jahid) in Research. The award is considered as the highest state award for women in the "Ka" category, according to the Women's and Children Ministry. The award-giving ceremony was held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined it virtually as the chief guest. Read: Better housing: Hasina distributes flats among 300 low-income families The government has introduced the award to recognize five Bangladeshi women in different categories -- politics, economics, education, culture and sports, social services, independence and Liberation War, research, and agriculture and rural development -- every year. Each awardee received a medal made of 40 gm of 18-carat gold, a replica of the medal, a cheque for Tk 4 lakh and a certificate of honour. Begum Fazilatun Nesa, the mother of the Prime Minister and wife of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, embraced martyrdom along with Bangabandhu and other family members in a brutal attack by some army personnel on August 15, 1975. She was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on August 8, 1930, and struggled for an independent Bangladesh alongside Bangabandhu. Read: All will get Covid vaccine shots, reassures PM Hasina State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed the award among the winners. On behalf of the award winners, freedom fighter from Cumilla Principal Jobeda Khatun Parul expressed her feelings at the event.