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Published : 26 Jul 2019, 11:06 PM
They highlighted her honesty, sincerity and simplicity while discussing the life and works of Baby Maudud at a commemoration at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday on her fifth death anniversary.
National Professor Anisuzzaman, who had Baby Maudud as a student at the Dhaka University’s Bangla department, was chief guest of the programme presided over by former Bangla Academy director general Shamsuzzaman Khan.
Baby Maudud never tolerated any discourtesy to her rivals when she was elected a member of the Ruqayyah Hall students union as a candidate of the Chhatra Union in 1967 and always maintained good relations with everyone, Prof Anisuzzaman recalled.
She was elected MP from the seats reserved for the Awami League in 2011. She also worked in the parliamentary standing committee on the social welfare ministry and library committee.
The government posthumously awarded her the Begum Rokeya Padak in 2017 for her contributions to the advancement of women.
Maudud, a classmate of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was an intimate friend of Bangabandhu's family.
“But she never took advantage of the deep friendship she had with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. No-one could get her to lobby for something,” Prof Anisuzzaman said.
Born on June 23, 1948 in Kolkata, Baby Maudud had worked as a journalist for a long time.
“Baby’s honesty as a journalist was uncompromising. She was a human being with many qualities.
"She loved to serve the people. She considered herself blessed for her involvement in democratic movements. There are a few people like her,” Prof Anisuzzaman added.
Shamsuzzaman said Baby Moudud was like his younger sister.
He highlighted two sides of Baby Maudud’s life – firstly, she had uncompromising moral standings and secondly, she had literary merit.
Maudud loved to read books, listen to music and travel. Writing was one of her lifetime habits too.
She wrote regularly in different publications and authored several books, mostly for children.
Bangabandhu Memorial Trust Member Secretary Sheikh Hafizur Rahman recalled Baby Maudud’s literary and research works.
“She initially refused the offer to become an MP when the prime minister chose her. She (Maudud) always said she needed no identity. She never worked for herself. She helped many people secretly, but never disclosed these,” he said.
Having lost her husband Advocate Md Hasan Ali in 1984, 12 years after their marriage, Baby Maudud was an idle to her family as well.
“Baro Apa (elder sister) was always firm. She never took money from anyone. We always knew that it was impossible to get her to lobby. But she herself tried to help all,” her brother Azimul Hoque Raihan said.
In her son Rabiul Hasan Avi’s words, Baby Maudud “may be known differently to different people, but she herself sought a life of an honest and good person”.
“And she succeeded in doing so,” he added.
“She was a true human…No-one can say she harmed them. Baby Apa always helped and inspired the people,” National Press Club President Saiful Alam said.
