Issue no.: 5 | September 2009

Making History

Ivy Rahman, A Prominent Political Leader And Women Rights Activist

Ivy Rahman (July 7,1944 - August 24, 2004): Jebun Nahar Ivy,popularly known as Ivy Rahman was a prominent political activist of Bangladesh who struggled for the welbeing of the people till her death.She played an active role in advancing women’s rights in Bangladesh.Ivy Rahman was born on 7 July 1944 in Bhairab,Kishoregong. Her father’s name was Jalauddin Ahmed and mother’s name was Hasina Begum. In 1958 Ivy Rahman was married to Zillur Rahman,also a veteran political leader, now the President of Bangladesh.

Ivy Rahman had developed her political affiliation since student life.As a member of Chatra League, student wing of Bangladesh Awami League,she was engaged with student politics and took part in the political movements under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against the Pakistani military rulers.She actively participated in the Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.

She took a leading role in organizing women political activities for her political party. As a committed party member,Ivy Rahman secured significant posts in her party,Awami League. In 1969, Ivy Rahman became the founding Organising Secretary of the Mohila Awami League(Women’s wing of Bangladesh Awami League). In 1975 she was nominated member of Jatiya Mohila League.In 1978, she became the Women Affairs Secretary of Awami League Central Working Committee. In 1980, she became the President of Mohila Awami League. Since then, simultaneously she held the posts of Women Affairs Secretary of Awami League Central Working Committee and President of Mohila Awami League till 2002. After the amendment of the AL manifesto by the party council in 2002, she resigned from the post of Mohila Awami League and was elected Women Affairs Secretary of the party’s central committee.

Apart from her party responsibility,Ivy Rahman played an independent and important role in the arena of women’s rights.She had consistent and committed stand on issues of women’s rights,even when her party had different views at times. She held different posts in various women’s organizations, both government and non government and contributed for women’s advancement.From 1996 to 2001, Ivy Rahman served as chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha and Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Samabaya Samity.She was the President of Mohila Samity until her death.

As Chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha, Ivy Rahman worked with various women's and children's rights groups and contributed in drafting the bill on Prevention of Women and Child Repression Act 2000.She was a strong advocate of equal participation of women in parliament, direct election of women and increasing the number of reserved seats for women in parliament.

Unlike other leaders,Ivy Rahman never sat up on the stage but always remained on the ground with other fellow activists.Even when she gave speech,she would be back on the ground right after the speech.Very naturally, on 21 August 2004, she managed a seat in the front of the rally organized by her political party Awami league.On that day,along with the hundreds of other wounds, Ivy Rahman was critically injured in the grenade attacks launched by the Islamic fundamentalists that targetted the Awami League leaders including its party chief Sheikh Hasina. On 24 August, she died after three days fight against death.

With the death of a political activist like Ivy Rahman, not only Awami League lost one of its very distinguished front line leaders, but Bangladesh lost a leader of the people and a strong advocate of women’s rights.