Remembering Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa

Sheikh Fazilatunnessa, nick named Renu, was born on 8th August 1930 at Tungipara. She lost her parents at a very early age and was brought up by her uncle and auntie -the parents of Sheikh Mujib. She was married to her first cousin-Sheikh Mujib at the age of five. Thereafter, she spent 40 long years in this family and embraced martyrdom with the father of the nation on 15 August 1975.
She had very little formal education and as per tradition of sheikh family, was imparted religious and other informal education at home. She spent a large chunk of her life at Tungipara, because sheikh Mujib either had his education and politics outside Faridpur. At last in 1954, she moved to Dhaka with her husband. She then had the time to look after her husband and the children. She not only was dedicated to her husband, the family and relations, but was also equally committed to the ideas and aspirations of the leader. Sheikh Mujib spent large part of his political life in jail and therefore Renu was always steering the family and politics. Had there been no lady like Renu in the life of Sheikh Mujib, we could have been deprived of Bangabandhu, father of the nation or the greatest Bengali of all time. Renu was not only dedicated to her husband, she was free from all greed and temptation. She could have become the wife of the governor of the then East Pakistan, wife of the Prime Minister of Pakistan or could have been the richest women in the then East Pakistan if she would have instigated Sheikh Mujib to shun off  his  six point program or the demand for the independence of the country. Mujib was always uncompromising and now it is adequately known that Begum Mujib was instrumental in keeping him so. That made Sheikh Mujib even more stubborn to press for the six point programs and to go ahead with total political emancipation of the Bengalees. That earned him the tile of Bangabandhu or friend of Bengal after his release from Agartola Conspiracy case in which he was implicated by the Pakistani rulers for alleged sedition.  The mass movement caused his release along with other captives. It was Begum Mujib whose tact and stubbornness stopped Mujib from going to Round table conference on parole. There secured the doctrine of one man one vote in the 1970 election. This election gave Awami league the majority seats that paved the way towards non-co-operation movement & subsequent emancipation. As everybody now knows, Fazilatun Nessa was also instrumental in drafting the historic Speech of March 7, 1971. She was also architect in getting the flag of Bangladesh hoisted at her residence instead of Pakistani Flag on 23 March, 1971.

Even when there was army crackdown, she remained devoted and determined. She managed the family tactfully, built contact with leading freedom fighters and helped in bringing the end desired by her husband.

After the liberation, the nation longed for the father of the nation and she waited for her husband. When he came back and assumed the president ship of the country, she was the first lady but she kept on maintaining the same old stature as a traditional Bengali woman, although she did not relinquish her role as invisible adviser of the father of the nation. She was no doubt self educated but she was more knowledgeable than people of our educated people. She named her youngest son Russel after the name of the great philosopher- Bertrand Russel.

She hardly came in public but maintained a very congenial atmosphere in the family that caused Bangabandhu to accept fathomless risk in life. She was highly respectable to the leaders and workers of the party and used to steer the party and its program while Bangabandhu was in the jail. She foiled the evil design of the few party stalwarts while they wanted to compromise six point programs with eight point programs. This humble and simple lady embraced martyrdom along with her husband and children.  The nation knows very little about this great lady but the killers knew that she would have taken her old role even in the absence of Sheikh Mujib. The nation knew very little of her life and work, her struggle and her dedication to the cause of the people before 1997.

She was intelligent, and courageous. She was calm and-quiet, soft spoken and patient. She was very meritorious and could keep in mind every detail of the instructions she received from her husband and was extremely successful in networking and maintaining liaison with leaders who mattered. That made her extra-ordinary women and paved the way towards transforming Sheikh Mujib into Bangabandhu, Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengalee of all times.

Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, Educationists, Freedom Fighter and Vice Chancellor of World University of Bangladesh

 

 

Remembering Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatun Nesa

Sheikh Fazilatunnessa, nick named Renu, was born on 8th August 1930 at Tungipara. She lost her parents at a very early age and was brought up by her uncle and auntie -the parents of Sheikh Mujib. She was married to her first cousin-Sheikh Mujib at the age of five. Thereafter, she spent 40 long years in this family and embraced martyrdom with the father of the nation on 15 August 1975. She had very little formal education and as per tradition of sheikh family, was imparted religious and other informal education at home. She spent a large chunk of her life at Tungipara, because sheikh Mujib either had his education and politics outside Faridpur. At last in 1954, she moved to Dhaka with her husband. She then had the time to look after her husband and the children. She not only was dedicated to her husband, the family and relations, but was also equally committed to the ideas and aspirations of the leader. Sheikh Mujib spent large part of his political life in jail and therefore Renu was always steering the family and politics. Had there been no lady like Renu in the life of Sheikh Mujib, we could have been deprived of Bangabandhu, father of the nation or the greatest Bengali of all time. Renu was not only dedicated to her husband, she was free from all greed and temptation. She could have become the wife of the governor of the then East Pakistan, wife of the Prime Minister of Pakistan or could have been the richest women in the then East Pakistan if she would have instigated Sheikh Mujib to shun off his six point program or the demand for the independence of the country. Mujib was always uncompromising and now it is adequately known that Begum Mujib was instrumental in keeping him so. That made Sheikh Mujib even more stubborn to press for the six point programs and to go ahead with total political emancipation of the Bengalees. That earned him the tile of Bangabandhu or friend of Bengal after his release from Agartola Conspiracy case in which he was implicated by the Pakistani rulers for alleged sedition. The mass movement caused his release along with other captives. It was Begum Mujib whose tact and stubbornness stopped Mujib from going to Round table conference on parole. There secured the doctrine of one man one vote in the 1970 election. This election gave Awami league the majority seats that paved the way towards non-co-operation movement subsequent emancipation. As everybody now knows, Fazilatun Nessa was also instrumental in drafting the historic Speech of March 7, 1971. She was also architect in getting the flag of Bangladesh hoisted at her residence instead of Pakistani Flag on 23 March, 1971. Even when there was army crackdown, she remained devoted and determined. She managed the family tactfully, built contact with leading freedom fighters and helped in bringing the end desired by her husband. After the liberation, the nation longed for the father of the nation and she waited for her husband. When he came back and assumed the president ship of the country, she was the first lady but she kept on maintaining the same old stature as a traditional Bengali woman, although she did not relinquish her role as invisible adviser of the father of the nation. She was no doubt self educated but she was more knowledgeable than people of our educated people. She named her youngest son Russel after the name of the great philosopher- Bertrand Russel. She hardly came in public but maintained a very congenial atmosphere in the family that caused Bangabandhu to accept fathomless risk in life. She was highly respectable to the leaders and workers of the party and used to steer the party and its program while Bangabandhu was in the jail. She foiled the evil design of the few party stalwarts while they wanted to compromise six point programs with eight point programs. This humble and simple lady embraced martyrdom along with her husband and children. The nation knows very little about this great lady but the killers knew that she would have taken her old role even in the absence of Sheikh Mujib. The nation knew very little of her life and work, her struggle and her dedication to the cause of the people before 1997. She was intelligent, and courageous. She was calm and-quiet, soft spoken and patient. She was very meritorious and could keep in mind every detail of the instructions she received from her husband and was extremely successful in networking and maintaining liaison with leaders who mattered. That made her extra-ordinary women and paved the way towards transforming Sheikh Mujib into Bangabandhu, Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengalee of all times. Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, Educationists, Freedom Fighter and Vice Chancellor of World University of Bangladesh