Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday paid rich tributes to the memory of poet Begum Sufia Kamal on the occasion of her 105th birth anniversary. “I convey my profound respect to the memory of Begum Sufia Kamal, one of the pioneers of progressive, democratic and women emancipation movements in Bangladesh, on the occasion of her 105th birth anniversary,” she said in a message. Poet Sufia Kamal was born on June 20 in 1911 in Barisal. The Prime Minister said Sufia Kamal was the image of a traditional Bengali woman and an
affectionate mother. On the other hand, she played an uncompromising role in every movement in
Bangladesh, she added. The thoughts of Begum Rokeya had a far-reaching impact on the life of Sufia Kamal, Sheikh Hasina said and recalled her role in the movement against banning Tagore songs by Pakistan government in 1961, language movement in 1952, non-cooperation movement and the Liberation War in 1971 and all democratic and cultural movements in independent Bangladesh. She said Sufia Kamal’s role inspired the pro-liberation forces when the distortion of history began in the country after the assassination of the Greatest Bangalee of all times, Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. The creativity of Sufia Kamal in literature is ever-memorable, the Prime Minister said and added that her write-ups still inspire the readers. She prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Begum Sufia Kamal.
