Rawshan Ara Bachchu, one of the valiant women who played active role in the Language Movement of 1952, is no more. She was 87.
The language veteran breathed her last around 10:30 am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital in Dhaka.
Her daughter Tahmida Bachchu said that Rawshan Ara Bachchu had been suffering from old-age complications for several days.
Her body was taken to the Bangla Academy for people to pay their last respects to her. Later, the body was taken to her residence at West Monipur in the capital. She will be buried at her family graveyard at Uchlapara village under Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar district today (Wednesday) after last namaza-e-janaza. Earlier, her first and second namaz-e-janazas were held at Bangla Academy and the Central Mosque of Dhaka University respectively.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Rawshan Ara Bachchu. In separate condolence messages, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Bachchu and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md Atiqul Islam also expressed deep shock at the death of Rawshan Ara Bachchu. In a condolence message, the Mayor prayed for salvation of departed soul of the language veteran. Besides, different socio-cultural and political organizations including ‘Amra Muktijoddhar Shantan’ expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Rawshan Ara Bachchu. Rawshan Ara Bachchu was born on December 17 in 1932 at Kulaura in Sylhet (now in Moulvibazar). She joined the politics of Democratic Progressive Front after her admission to Dhaka University. She was one of the pioneers who wanted to hold a peaceful procession defying a ban on rallies on February 21.
A philosophy graduate, Rawshan Ara thought at several prominent schools in Dhaka including Azimpur Girls' School and Nazrul Academy.
