Aroma Dutta, Noorjahan Begum receive Begum Rokeya Award-2016

Social activists Aroma Dutta and Noorjahan Begum have been awarded the Begum Rokeya Award for works to empower women.

Two receive the honour every year, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while handing the awards in a ceremony at Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

“But five persons will be given the award from next year,” she said.

Dutta, a former member of National Human Rights Commission, is executive director of PRIP Trust.

She is the granddaughter of 1971 martyr Dhirendranath Datta who was the first person to demand state recognition of Bangla language in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly.

Noorjahan Begum, a teacher by profession, is the vice-president of the ruling Awami League in Kushtia district.   

The award named after women’s rights pioneer Begum Rokeya recognises women who play significant role in improving the situation of women through education, socio-economic works and practice of culture.