Mahfuza Khanam, former vice president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and the only female to hold the position, has passed away at the age of 79.
Mahfuza Khanam’s son confirmed that she fell ill while out for exercise around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead.
Her body will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar on Wednesday for public homage from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral prayer will be held at the Dhaka University Central Mosque at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Azimpur Graveyard in Dhaka.
Mahfuza Khanam was the chairperson of the Central Shishu-Kishore Sangathan Khelaghor and served as an advisor to the Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi. The Udichi organization has expressed deep condolences over her passing.
Born in 1946, Mahfuza Khanam completed her bachelor’s degree in physics from Dhaka University in 1966, followed by a master’s degree in 1967. She was elected DUCSU vice president in the 1966-67 election as a candidate of the Student Union.
Throughout her career, she held various important posts including Director General of the Secondary and Higher Education Department and was a member of Dhaka University’s Senate. She also served as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Asiatic Society in 2009.
Leaders from social and political organizations have expressed profound grief over her death. Professor Syed Anwara Hossain, president of the Combined Social Movements, and general secretary Saleh Ahmed praised her as a fearless leader of the 1960s student movement against military dictatorship and a lifelong fighter for societal progress and cultural development.
SM A Sabur, acting president of the United National Awami Party (UNAP), and general secretary Asadullah Tarek also extended condolences to the bereaved family.
