Rokeya Hall alumni relive golden days at Dhaka University

The old but golden days spent in Rokeya Hall have brought together its past residents at Dhaka University.

The alumnae from the student hall for women came together at TSC on Friday for the fourth reunion of the Rokeya Hall Alumni Association.

They mingled with young students who now live in the rooms that they, for a while, called home.

Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the gathering in the morning.

A magic show, musicals and other cultural performances were planned for the day-long event.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki was among the guests, and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was invited as chief guest for the afternoon session.  

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, too, is a Rokeya Hall alumna,” said VC Siddique, urging the others to follow her example.

“We want an enlightened world. Your presence can light up any place. The nation is now passing a time when there are attempts to drag the country towards darkness.

“People are supposed to love each other but these groups are in a conspiracy to create divisions. We have to stop this,” he said.

Seven former students attached to the hall were awarded at the programme for their contribution to different sectors.

They are Bangladesh's first professional female photographer Sayeda Khanam, Tagore songs exponent Fahmida Khatun, women's movement leader Maleka Begum, dancers Laila Hasan and Zinat Barkatullah, sports organiser Rafia Akter Dolly, and singer Sabina Yasmin.

After starting its journey as Chameli House with 12 residents in 1938, the hall was renamed Women's Hall in 1956, before finally becoming Begum Rokeya Hall in 1964.