CA calls for building new Bangladesh based on ideals of Begum Rokeya

Chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has urged all to move forward in building a new Bangladesh following the ideals of Begum Rokeya.

He made the call on Tuesday, December 9 at the Begum Rokeya Day event held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

The chief adviser said, if Begum Rokeya could dream, we also can. Why can’t we dream? Let us at least try. Begum Rokeya moved society far forward; we will take it even further. Even if we cannot do much, at least we can dream. That is what Rokeya did. She dreamt even though she could not do much beyond establishing a school. But we are doing a lot today. In this age of technology, nothing is impossible if there is willingness to act.

He said today’s women, shaped after the people’s uprising, represent a different society. This is the women who will build the new Bangladesh. They inspire not only women but everyone. That is why they must be upheld with dignity. Begum Rokeya wrote beautifully; we loved reading her. But it must go beyond admiration. Every place must feel that spark, that consciousness, to build the new Bangladesh.

The chief adviser said, Rokeya dreamt extraordinary dreams. Such dreams were revolutionary. She shook society. He further said Rokeya thought ahead. One of her statements amazed him—she said, “Educate girls so that they can earn their own income.” That was a century ago. She did not speak of jobs; she spoke of earning independently. Today we tell our youth to become entrepreneurs. She said it long ago—“Do not run after jobs, make your own arrangements.” Why are we not learning from this?

Dr Muhammad Yunus said those who received awards today are not just daughters of Bangladesh; they have elevated the whole nation. This is a landmark achievement. They represent leadership beyond Bangladesh. Honouring them today is only the beginning. When newspapers highlight their words and achievements, women everywhere will read and ask themselves why they cannot be like that. Their position, philosophy and discourse are not only relevant to Bangladesh but to the world. The world honours them, and today Bangladesh has taken the first step in recognising them.