Mahfuza Khanam

Mahfuza Khanam
মাহফুজা খানম
Khanam (right) accepting award from Mohiuddin Ahmed (May 1967)
President of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
In office
22 January 2018 – 2021
Preceded byAmirul Islam Chowdhury
Succeeded byKhondoker Bazlul Hoque
Personal details
Born(1946-04-14)14 April 1946[1]
Calcutta, Bengal Province, British India
Died12 August 2025(2025-08-12) (aged 79)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
SpouseShafique Ahmed (m. 1969)

Mahfuza Khanam (14 April 1946 – 12 August 2025) was a Bangladeshi academic and social activist. She was the president of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh from 2018–2021.[2] She was awarded Begum Rokeya Padak (2012), Anannya Top Ten Awards (2013) and Ekushey Padak (2021)[3][4][1]

Early life and career

Khanam was born on 14 April 1946 in Calcutta, Bengal Province, British India[5] to Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Saleha Khanam.[6]

She attended that Bangla Bazar Girls’ School and graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in Physics from University of Dhaka in 1966 and 1967.[5]

As a student, Khanam became the vice-president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU).[7] In 2009, Khanam served as the General Secretary of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.[8]

Khanam served as the director general of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.[9] She served as the chairperson of Khelaghar Ashor, an organisation for children.[10][11] She was also the president of several organisations including Manikganj Samity in Dhaka, Peshajibi Nari Samaj (Professional Women Society) and Federation of World Teachers' Association (FWTA).[12][13][14] She was a vice-president on the executive committee of the Itihas Academy.[15] She also served as 15th Principal of Manikgonj Government Women's College, Manikgonj.[16]

Personal life and death

In 1969, she married Shafique Ahmed,[5] a barrister and a former minister of law[17] and had three children.[5]

Mahfuza died on 12 August 2025, at the age of 79, after collapsing while swimming at the Officers Club, Dhaka.[5][18]

Award

Begum Mahfuza Khanom was awarded Ekushey Padak, the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh. In 2021, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs administers the award to 21 distinguished citizens of the country for outstanding contributions in their respective fields.[19] She got the award for the contribution in Education.

References

  1. ^ a b "শিক্ষায় একুশে পদক পাচ্ছেন ডাকসুর সাবেক নারী ভিপি মাহফুজা খানম" [Former female DU VP Mahfuza Khanam to receive Ekushey Padak for contributions to education]. Bangladesh Journal (in Bengali). 5 February 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Presidents". Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on Dec 20, 2023. Retrieved Jan 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Blockade aims to save war criminals: PM". The Daily Star. 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  4. ^ "Ananya awards 10 women". The Daily Star. 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Mahfuza Khanam, Ducsu's only female VP no more". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  6. ^ "Two trust funds set up at DU". The Daily Star. 2012-12-20. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  7. ^ Alamgir, Mohiuddin; Hasan, Rashidul (2019-03-09). "Absence of Ducsu for decades degraded student politics". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. ^ "President lauds Asiatic Society". The Daily Star. 2009-09-06. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  9. ^ "Body formed to remove managerial weaknesses". The Daily Star. 2009-10-01. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  10. ^ "'Influential quarters in remote areas often shelter culprits'". The Daily Star. 2019-07-06. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  11. ^ "Khelaghar for special tribunal to try crimes against children". The Daily Star. 2018-05-05. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  12. ^ Shah, Zahangir (2012-05-18). "School magazine Kantabotee launched in Manikganj". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  13. ^ "'No criminal can escape trial'". The Daily Star. 2012-04-29. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  14. ^ "Plot on to foil war crimes trial". The Daily Star. 2011-12-25. Archived from the original on Dec 10, 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  15. ^ "Executive Committee". Itihas Academy. Archived from the original on Jun 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "College Administration". Manikgonj Government Women's College. Archived from the original on Dec 4, 2021.
  17. ^ "161 students get Prof Mahfuza Khanam-Barrister Shafique Ahmed stipend". The Daily Star. 2016-10-01. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  18. ^ "ডাকসুর সাবেক ভিপি অধ্যাপক মাহফুজা খানম মারা গেছেন". The Daily Star (in Bengali). 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  19. ^ "21 named for Ekushey Padak 2021". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-02-04. Archived from the original on Feb 4, 2021.
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