Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has called on the nation to embrace the ideals of Begum Rokeya to build a “new Bangladesh” founded on equality, vision, and progressive thinking.
He made the call on Tuesday (December 9) while addressing the Begum Rokeya Day programme at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.
Dr Yunus said, “If Begum Rokeya could dream in her time, why can’t we? Let us dream big. She showed us the path; we will take it much further. Even if we can’t do everything, at least we can dream. She dreamt, and that dream changed women’s lives. Today, with the power of technology, there is nothing we cannot do if we are determined.”
Calling today’s women the driving force of transformation, he added, “This is a different generation of women—women shaped by the spirit of the mass uprising. They are the ones who will build the new Bangladesh. They not only inspire other women but the entire society. We must uplift them so their voices are never lost, as happened with Begum Rokeya. She wrote beautifully, but society did not wake up. This time, we need a nationwide awakening—an energy that reaches every corner.”
Dr Yunus described Rokeya as a revolutionary thinker far ahead of her time. “The dreams she dreamt were extraordinary. It’s hard to believe someone could think so radically a century ago. These were not just beautiful words; these were words that shook society.”
Referring to Rokeya’s vision on women’s economic independence, he said, “I was amazed by one line—she urged people to educate girls so they could earn on their own. That was over 100 years ago. She didn’t talk about jobs; she talked about earning independently. Today we promote entrepreneurship, and she spoke about it long before us. Why aren’t we learning from her?”
Speaking about the award recipients, Dr Yunus said, “Those who received the awards today are not just role models for Bangladesh—they are setting new global standards. These awards are transformative. These women are not only leaders of Bangladesh; they are leaders of the world. Honouring them today is just the first step. They are already changing the nation. When newspapers publish today’s event, girls everywhere will read and ask themselves—why can’t we achieve the same?”
He added that the awardees’ presence, ideas, and philosophies resonate far beyond national boundaries. “The world respects them. Today, we are the first to honour them, but the world will continue to do so.”
Dr Yunus concluded with a call for collective determination, urging the nation to build a new Bangladesh with the spirit, courage, and revolutionary ideals of Begum Rokeya.
