Young female protestors at Shahbag shout slogans. A poster of Jahanara Imam can be seen in the background
Copyright: The Daily Star

Women in Bangladesh are a force to be reckoned with. It all began 42 years ago when Jahanara Imam’s elder son, Shafi Imam Rumi, joined the Mukti Bahini (pro- Bangladeshi independence group) and fought against Pakistan’s army. During the entire nine months of the war of liberation. Jahanara wrote what she felt and saw in her diary. This went on to become one of the most important publications about the war. It was called ‘Ekatturer Dinguli’ or ‘Of blood and fire.’