Hazera Begum left home to escape the torture of her stepmother. Eight-years old and lost in a world she did not know, Hazera was raised by the streets where she made her living by begging.
Eventually, like many other street children, she was forced into prostitution for survival.
Always looking to overcome the trap she was in, Hazera finally came across a development organisation in 2008. It helped her bid farewell to her former life and work for the wellbeing of other sex workers.
In 2010, she established a child development centre in Dhaka - "Shishuder Jonno Aamra" -with her savings and support from individual donors. Hazera began gathering street children and providing them with food, treatment and
most importantly - love - which they need the most. Most of about 50 children of the centre go to nearby schools to attain formal education.
"These kids are my family. I am embracing my motherhood with these children," says Hazera, 49.
"I want these children to do something for the country one day and make everyone proud... I would be the happiest mother ever that day," Hazera says.
In recognition of such extraordinary contributions, Hazera and six other women were honoured with the "Unsung Women Nation Builders Awards 2019" yesterday. They worked to build an enlightened society, which is currently plagued with struggles and open discrimination against women.
The other six women are freedom fighter Khurshid Jahan; Japanese philanthropist Hiroko
Kobayashi; worker-turned RMG entrepreneur Chhobi Das Gupta; orphanage founder Bilkis Banu; Rupa Dutta, school founder for indigenous children and Salma Choudhury, founder of ASHIC, a shelter for children with cancer.
The Daily Star in cooperation with IPDC Finance Limited presented the awards to the outstanding personalities at a gala event at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital. They were selected out of more than 100 nominations.
The awards jury consisted of renowned personalities — Rubana Huq, managing director, Mohammadi Group; Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director, Campaign for Popular Education, and Anisul Hoque, author, screenwriter and journalist. Planning Minister Muhammad Abdul Mannan, the chief guest, handed over a cheque worth Tk 2 lakh to each of the awardees in the colourful programme, organised forthe third time.
Rights activist Sultana Kamal, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam, CAMPE Executive Director Rasheda K Choudhury, Manusher Jonno Foundation Executive Director Shaheen Anam, noted singer Luva Nahid Choudhury, Prof Rebecca Haque of Dhaka University and Prof Niaz Zaman, supernumerary professor at the University of Dhaka, handed over crests to the awardees.
Asaduzzaman, son of Khurshid Jahan, received the award as her mother passed away on February 19 due to cancer.
Afterwards, Minister Abdul Mannan in his address, thanked The Daily Star and IPDC for the award programme and said it would help others learn of the exemplary work done by the unsung heroes.
He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had mainstreamed women and their contribution, breaking various forms of barriers.
"A renaissance has been created in Bangladesh. In this march towards progress, we will take all onboard and make a prosperous country," Mannan said.
He said there were many others who were making extraordinary contributions to the society and they alsoneeded to be recognised. ,
The Daily Star Editor and
Publisher Mahfuz Anam said the < programme's awardees had demon- < strated the real spirit of humanity and love through their actions, instead of J just using buzz words and not doing a much else. f
"We want recognition of our work
so easily. But when we see the way p these women have come forward to ti help others, we realise how selfless a they are. They worked not for recogni- otion... We have a lot to learn from 1 them, "he said.
' Many think that they cannot do ■ good work if they are not educated or don't have enough money, but these women demonstrated that such work requires love for people and a sense of humanity and not wealth, Anam said.
"We hope you will be inspired by the unsung women nation builders and work for betterment of people.
"Collectively, we will definitely build a Sonar Bangla."
IPDC Finance Limited Managing Director and CEO Mominul Islam said they were proud to be part of the event honouring women dedicated to the wellbeing of people without any selfinterest.
"The way these women have demonstrated their ability to help people is a model for all of us," he said, adding: "Sacrifice of these seven women surpasses fairytales. Actually, we have been honoured by honouring you, "he told the awardees.
"You are the lights of this society. We wish you will keep up the lights."
Mominul Islam said IPDC had various women-friendly products and that it also provided incentives on loan interests if any property was purchased by a woman. IPDC will continue to work for socio-economic development of the country and women empowerment.
The awardees thanked and t expressed gratitude to The Daily Star and IPDC for the award and said it would inspire them, as well as others, to do good work for society.
”1 hope many others will come to do good work," said Salma Chowdhury of ASHIC. .
"Thank you all; thank you The Daily C Star. I am feeling very good to have this award. It is an inspiration for me,” said Hazera Begum, an award winner. I
The programme, moderated by TV lit personality Sharmin Lucky, also fea- 1 ured a musical show by Joler Caan st ind screening of short documentaries a9 )n each ofthose honoured.