Khanam, Ayesha
Khanam, Ayesha (1947-2021) born on 18 October 1947 at Gabragati village of Netrakona district. Her Mother’s name is Jamatunnecha Khanam and father’s name is Ghulam Ali Khan. Her husband Mortuza Khan was an engineer. They have one daughter.
Ayesha Khanam completed her primary education at Gabragati Village School and enrolled in Girls’ High School, Netrakona in sixth grade. From there she passed Matriculation and got admitted into Mominunnessa Girls’ College, Mymensingh where from she passed Intermediate. Later, she obtained master’s degree from the Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka.
While at Netrakona Girls School, she took active part in the movement against the Sharif Education Commission Report in 1962. Later, she got involved with the Chhatra Union (Students Union), while studying at the college. She came to Dhaka University in 1965 and became more closely associated with in the activities of the Chhatra Union. She played a leading role in the anti-Ayub mass uprising of 1969. In 1969, she was elected General Secretary of Rokeya Hall Students Council and served as Vice President (VP) in 1970. She was elected the Vice President of Bangladesh Chhatra Union in 1970. During her student days, she joined the left-wing movement. She was elected a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party after independence.
In the Liberation War of 1971, she played an important role in the Communist Party-run refugee camp and Freedom Fighters’ camp. She received her initial training in medical care at Agartala. She worked in the service of the war wounded Freedom Fighters in the camp. As a student leader, she played a role in creating public opinion through campaigns broadcast by the 'swadhin bangla betar kendra'.
After completing higher education in the post-independence period, she did not join in any job and instead, she continued in politics, dedicating herself to the emancipation of toiling masses, especially the women folk. She was in the struggle throughout her life. She was associated with the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad since its inception in 1972 and served as its organizing secretary, joint secretary, and general secretary. From 2008, she served as its president and held this position till her last day.
Ayesha Khanam participated in numerous international conferences including the Vienna Human Rights Conference of 1993, the Fourth International Women’s Conference, UNIFEM, UNESCAP, CSW, UN CEDAW, UNWOME etc. She made an immense contribution towards strengthening the movement for women’s human rights, law reform, implementation of UFC, CEDAW charter, and movement for women’s political empowerment. She was a member of the National Women’s Development Council of the Government of Bangladesh. She was also a member of the Advisory Committee of UNWOMEN and UNDP. She was associated with the five-year planning of the Ministry of Planning. Later on, she participated in every budget meeting consistently pleading the needs of women to be incorporated into the budget. She was active in all the democratic, non-communal, human rights movements of pre- and post-independence Bangladesh. Ayesha Khanam is the author of several books which include, among other, ‘Towards the Path of Women’s Human Rights and Empowerment’ (2015) and ‘Muktijuddya Diner Smriti’ (2001).
Ayesha Khanam breathed her last on 2 January 2021. [Jebunnessa]
