Begum Rokeya Award winner Aroma Dutta dedicates award to rural women

In an emotional thank-you speech, Aroma Dutta, a veteran social activist has dedicated her Begum Rokeya Award to all women in rural Bangladesh.

She said the prestigious award bestowed upon her compels her to become more accountable over her responsibilities to ensure socio-economic development of women.

"I am grateful to all those women across the rural areas who are following the ideals of Begum Rokeya and turning my struggle into power. They are changing the image of Bangladesh by working at both home and outside."

Dutta, executive director of PRIP Trust, is the granddaughter of 1971 martyr Dhirendranath Datta.

"They are the ones who are taking the country towards progress. I am just their medium," said the former member of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission.

The 66-year-old burst into tears while receiving the award from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Friday.

Addressing the prime minister as 'Apa' (elder sister), Aroma said: "It is my honour to receive this award from you. It feels like my hard work has finally paid off."

The social activist has been working for the socio-economic development of rural women in Bangladesh since 1980.

Her grandfather Dhirendranath Datta was the first person to demand state recognition of Bangla language in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly.

Both Dhirendranath and his son Dilip Datta were tortured and killed by the Pakistani military forces in 1971.

Aroma's father Sanjib Datta was a journalist who worked in the Pakistan Observer that was named Bangladesh Observer after liberation.

He was also one of the coordinators of Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters) during the 1971 Liberation War that led to Bangladesh's birth as a sovereign nation.

Aroma remembered her grandfather, father and uncle on the occasion and sought guidance from the prime minister to contribute to the development of the country as a successor of the freedom fighters.

She reflected on how late journalist Baby Maudud had helped her spread the spirit of women’s rights pioneer Begum Rokeya in Bangladesh.

Noorjahan Begum, who also won the Begum Rokeya Award 2016, echoed Aroma.

The award is an incentive to work harder for improving the situation of women and society, she said.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki chaired the event moderated by Secretary Nasima Begum.