Just as Begum Rokeya has shown, women should fight all barriers be it traditional or religious values or harassment to get themselves educated, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.

The importance of education in setting women free from seclusion of staying at home was discussed at a programme at the senate bhaban of Dhaka University.

Before the discussion, a paper titled “Situating Rokeya” was presented by Perween Hasan, vice chancellor of Central Women's University.

Her presentation was a part of a series of lectures organised by DU's women and gender studies department on Begum Rokeya Day, commemorating the 134th birth anniversary and the 82nd death anniversary of pioneering feminist writer, social reformer, educationist and philosopher Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain.       

The day was observed all over the country as well as in the subcontinent through different programmes, rallies and seminars.

Hasan read excerpts from Bangla novels, including Anwara and Abdullah, newspaper clippings and journals from the early 1900s to depict the society in which Rokeya boldly voiced her opinion about women's rights.

Most of the writings depicted an ideal educated woman as someone who remains at home, shows unquestioned devotion towards her husband, cooks, reproduces and takes care of children.

Tania Haque, chairman of the women and gender studies department, said, “In her [Rokeya] era, it was considered a sin for women to learn anything else but Arabic. But Rokeya studied, learned and took up her pen against seclusion so that many of us women today could become educated and earn a living independently. "

As the chief guest, Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, DU vice chancellor, talked about how the scenario of education for women changed over time. 

A special guest, Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said, “A regressive trend is noticeable in the society, which uses religion and misinterprets it, to provoke the thinking that women being modern or doing business or working with men is anti-religious.”