Raihan Akhter Banu Roni
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Raihan Akhter Banu (nickname: Roni; , 11 January 1952 - 3 April 2024) was a member of parliament of Bangladesh and a leader of the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (), popularly abbreviated as BNP (), is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. It was founded on 1 September 1978 by President of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman, wit ...
(BNP). She started her political career as a student leader of the then East Pakistan Student League that is currently known as
Bangladesh Chhatra League Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
. As an organiser, she actively took part in the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
in 1971. She was elected as a member of parliament ( Member of the Jatiyo Sangshad) of Bangladesh in the 8th Parliament on the nomination of
Bangladesh Nationalist Party The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (), popularly abbreviated as BNP (), is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. It was founded on 1 September 1978 by President of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman, wit ...
(BNP). She falls in the list of both 20th-century women politicians and 21st-century women politicians, as she started her politics in 1969 and became an MP in 2004.


Early life and education

Raihan Akhter Banu was born to Rowshan Ara and Abdur Rahman Mondal at 'Chalkdev Para' area of Naogaon Town in
Naogaon District Naogaon District () is a district in northern Bangladesh, and part of Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Naogaon Distri ...
. She completed her
Secondary School Certificate Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Matriculation examination, is a public examination in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives and Nepal conducted by educational boards for the successful completi ...
(SSC) examination from the Central Girls' High School of Naogaon under Rajshahi Board. She appeared in
Higher Secondary Certificate Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Higher Secondary School Certificate, Higher Secondary Education Certificate (HSEC) or Intermediate Examination is a secondary education qualification in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. It is equivalent to the f ...
(HSC) examination from the Naogaon Govt. BMC Women's College. Raihan Akhter Banu Roni received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the
Rajshahi University The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a Public university, public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 ...
. Her father was a prominent person of the town. Her paternal Uncle Late Khan Mohammad Basir Uddin Mondal was a politician of the then
All-India Muslim League The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party founded in 1906 in Dhaka, British India with the goal of securing Muslims, Muslim interests in South Asia. Although initially espousing a united India with interfaith unity, the Muslim L ...
and the then
Pakistan Muslim League The Pakistan Muslim League (; known as PML), is the name of several different Pakistani political parties that have dominated the centre-right platform in the country. The ''Muslim League'' (the original successor of the All-India Muslim ...
. Her paternal grandfather Late Zarif Modal was a landlord and rich person of the district. Her elder brother Late Mokhlesur Rahman Raja was a veteran
freedom fighter A freedom fighter is a person engaged in a struggle to achieve political freedom, particularly against an established government. The term is typically reserved for those who are actively involved in armed or otherwise violent rebellion. Termi ...
of
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
and a former leader of
Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
(before 1974) and Jatiyo Samajtrantic Dal (JSD)(after 1974 to 1984). Late Kasir Uddin Mridha of Rajshahi, a veteran leader of the then
All-India Muslim League The All-India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party founded in 1906 in Dhaka, British India with the goal of securing Muslims, Muslim interests in South Asia. Although initially espousing a united India with interfaith unity, the Muslim L ...
of
Rajshahi Rajshahi (, ) is a metropolis, metropolitan city and a major Urban area, urban, administrative, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous Rajshahi Division, division and Rajshahi Distr ...
in
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
, was her maternal grandfather. Her maternal uncle Late Khoda Box Mridha was a famous sports personality of the country. Pola Uddin, Baroness Uddin, a British life peer and community activist of Bangladeshi descent, is a cousin of Raihan Akhter Banu.


Early political career

Raihan Akhter Banu (Roni) started her political career at the age of 16 while she was a student of class 11 (Intermediate or HSC level). She followed her elder brother's footsteps in politics and became a member of the then East Pakistan Students' League, currently known as
Bangladesh Chhatra League Bangladesh Chhatra League, simply Chhatra League (), is the student wing of the political party, Bangladesh Awami League, founded by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 4 January 1948. The organisation is banned and listed as a terrorist organisation in B ...
(বাংলাদেশ ছাত্র লীগ), a sister organisation of
Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...
party. She was elected as Secretary of her Naogaon Govt. BMC Women's College Students' Union at the age of 17 years in 1969.


Marriage and Liberation War of Bangladesh

Raihan Akhter married a veteran Language Fighter of 1952 and well known leftist leader of Bangladesh
Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohiuddin Ahmed (died 28 January 2010) was a Bangladesh Army officer who was convicted of the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On 28 January 2010, Ahmed was hanged along with Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, A. K. M. Mohiuddin Ahmed, Sayed Fa ...
. As a freedom fighter of battle field, her elder brother joined the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
and her husband took part as an organiser. She also took part in the
Bangladesh Liberation War The Bangladesh Liberation War (, ), also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalism, Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which res ...
of 1971, as an organiser. To organise, in June 1971 she went to
Murshidabad Murshidabad (), is a town in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. This town is the headquarters of Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, Bhagirathi Riv ...
of
West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...
and later on to
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
.


Motherhood and sabbatical from politics

After Bangladesh achieved her independence, Mrs. Raihan Akhter Banu took a long sabbatical from politics. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from the
university of Rajshahi The University of Rajshahi (), also known as Rajshahi University (RU), is a public research university located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. It is the second oldest and third largest university in Bangladesh. The university's 59 departments are or ...
in 1972. She became mother of two sons and a daughter. She spent almost 20 years of her life rearing her children. She again started her political career in late 1990.


Politics after 1990

Raihan Akhter Banu was involved in an anti-autocratic regime movement of 1990 and later she participated in political programmes.


Member of Parliament and afterwards

In recent years, Raihan Akhter has been active in both national politics and
Naogaon District Naogaon District () is a district in northern Bangladesh, and part of Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Naogaon Distri ...
BNP politics.


Death

Raihan Akhtar Banu died from
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is altered organ function in an acutely ill patient requiring immediate medical intervention. There are different stages of organ dysfunction for certain different organs, both in acute and in chronic ...
on 3 April 2024, at the age of 72.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roni, Raihan Akhter Banu 1952 births 2024 deaths People from Naogaon District Politicians from Rajshahi Division 20th-century Bangladeshi women politicians 8th Jatiya Sangsad members Women members of the Jatiya Sangsad University of Rajshahi alumni Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians 21st-century Bangladeshi women politicians