Mahfuza Khanam: Sudden demise of a noble soul

Educationist, women leader, social worker, freedom fighter and the first and so far only female VP of Dhaka University Central Students' Union, Professor Mahfuza Khanam, passed away on Tuesday morning. The death of Professor Mahfuza Khanam, wife of Supreme Court senior lawyer and former Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed, has cast a shadow of grief over every field that was graced by her vibrant presence.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, a prominent freedom fighter, the first VP of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) in post-independence Bangladesh and former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), was very close to Professor Mahfuza Khanam as they were comrades. Mujahidul Islam Selim, deeply saddened by the death of Mahfuza Khanam, told View Bangladesh: "I have become even sicker after hearing the news (of Mahfuza Khanam's death). My heart is bursting with grief." After controlling his emotion a little, he said: "I have rarely seen such a sincere and enthusiastic person like Mahfuza Khanam in my life. Wherever she steps, she is successful. Be it student politics, teaching, the Liberation War or family life."

"Mahfuza Khanam was one of the leaders of the education movement during the Pakistan period. Due to this, she was nominated by the East Pakistan Students Union and elected as the VP of Ducsu for the term of 1966-67. A unique personality and a courageous fighter, Mahfuza Khanam, has held leftist ideology throughout her life, although she did not participate in active politics after independence. After her marriage to Barrister Shafique Ahmed, her political consciousness became more awakened," he added.

ZI Khan Panna, a prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court, chairman of the legal aid organization Ain O Salish Kendra, trustee of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and chairman of the Legal Aid Committee of Bangladesh Bar Council, was also close to Mahfuza Khanam. He expressed his condolences on Mahfuza Khanam's demise and told Views Bangladesh: "Mahfuza Khanam had a colorful life. She was a leader, freedom fighter, teacher and the only female VP of Ducsu. Mahfuza received the Ekushey Padak in 2021 for her special contribution to education. Apart from such a colorful life, she was a good person. So simple, so sincere, so kind. She never let anyone leave her Indira Road house without having meal. Barrister Shafique Ahmed and Mahfuza Khanam both know how to respect people."

"Whenever I visited them, Mahfuza Khanam would say at the beginning, Panna Bhai, how long has it been since you came home? Now Mahfuza Khanam is no longer at home," he added.

Mahfuza Khanam was born on April 14, 1946 in Kolkata. She studied at Bangla Bazar Girls' School. In 1966, she graduated from the Physics Department of Dhaka University and in 1967, she obtained a master's degree from the same department. Later, in 1968, she received a scholarship to the University of Sussex in London, but the then Monayem Khan government did not give her a passport. She was nominated by the East Pakistan Students' Union and was elected VP of Ducsu for the 1966-67 term. On February 8, 1969, she married prominent lawyer and former Law Minister Shafique Ahmed. They have two sons and a daughter.

Mahfuza Khanam played an active role in the Liberation War and fought directly on the battlefield. In 2012, she received the Begum Rokeya Padak for women's education and socio-economic development, and on 26 August 2013, she received the 'Ananya Top Ten 2013' award and honour. She also received the 'Jaya Alokit Nari-2017' award from Bangladesh's satellite TV station RTV. In 2021, she received the Ekushey Padak for her contribution in the education sector.

Professor Mahfuza Khanam, who has been teaching in various government colleges for a long time, was serving as the president of the Asiatic Society. She was also a member of the Senate of Dhaka University. Mahfuza Khanam has also served as the chairperson of various social and cultural organizations including Khelaghar and a member of the National Human Rights Commission.

Her son Barrister Mahbub Shafique told Views Bangladesh: "My mother Mahfuza Khanam was physically quite healthy. She felt sick while swimming at the Officers' Club on Tuesday morning. From there, she was taken to the nearby Holy Family Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Doctors said she died of a heart attack."