Fazilatunnessa, Begum

Fazilatunnessa, Begum (1899-1977) Educationist and writer. She was born in the village of Kumulli in Tangail in 1899. Her father's name was Wajed Ali Khan, and mother Halima Khatun. She passed her matriculation examination in 1921 and completed her IA (intermediate of Arts) from Eden College in 1923. She obtained BA degree from Bettun College of Kolkata in 1925. She passed MS examination in Mathematics from the Dhaka University in 1927 securing first position in the First class. In 1928, she went to London for higher education. The first woman graduate of Muslim Bengal, Fazilatunnessa came back from London in 1930 and joined in the Education Department as an Inspector. In August 1930, she presided over the annual meeting of the 'Babgio Muslim Samaj-Sebak-Sangha' held at Albert Hall in Kolkata.

In 1935 she joined the bethune college of Kolkata as a Professor of Mathematics. After the partition of India, she came back to dhaka and joined eden mohila college as its Principal in 1948 and remained in this post until 1957. Through her successful efforts, the college was elevated to degree level and science and commerce sections were opened.

Many of her writings on female education and women's development were published in various magazines and periodicals including saogat. Fazilatunnessa died in Dhaka in 1977. In order to commemorate her memory, Jahangirnagar University established a residential hall named Fazilatunnessa Hall in 1987. [Khan Mahbub]