STAR REPORT

Today is the

15th death

anniversary

of Begum

Fawzia

Samad,

wife of late MA Samad, founder of Bangladesh General Insurance Company PLC, said a press release.

She was the founder and editor of Minar, the first Bangla children’s magazine, published in 1949.

She showed remarkable courage during the Liberation War by allowing her Dhanmondi residence to be used to receive the first cache of arms in April 1971 and to shelter freedom fighters.

She also established free community schools, Kushumkoli, and other humanitarian initiatives. She served as the longest-serving president of the Dhaka Ladies Club from 1973 to 2011, which continues to serve the community.

Fawzia Samad was born on February 28, 1929, in Shillong, Assam, then part of British India. Her ancestral home was in Balaganj upazila of Sylhet.

She was the mother of Towhid Samad, chairman of BGIC, and Fancy Samad, Tamju Samad, and Sabrina Samad.