Begum Rokeya Day will be observed on Friday across the country with due respect as the country will observe the 136th birth and 84th death anniversaries of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on Thursday on the occasion of `Begum Rokeya Day 2016`.In separate messages, on the eve of the day, the President and the Prime Minister recalled with respect the contribution of Begum Rokeya, the pioneer of struggle for women emancipation in the subcontinent, in social reforms and development of women.They wished success of all programmes of the day and congratulated the recipients of Begum Rokeya Padak 2016.The President, in his message, said Begum Rokeya, defying various obstacles, played a unique role for emancipation of women from religious dogma, conservativeness and the curse of illiteracy.The nation will remember with respect the contribution of Begum Rokeya in the development of neglected, oppressed and helpless women in this subcontinent, he added.The government is working relentlessly for women empowerment through involving them with overall development of the country, said the President, adding that so the women are now working at all the professions including education, health, Judicial service, administration and armed forces.Highlighting Bangladesh as the role model in women empowerment, he said the United Nations conferred the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with various prestigious awards like MDG, South-South, Champion of the Earth, Planet 50-50 Champion, Agent of Changes for her [Sheikh Hasina] outstanding success in women empowerment.In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Begum Rokeya played a role of pioneer in the society as she had spread the light of education among women breaking the shackles of a conservative society.She had hit the root of injustice and discrimination towards women in society through her sharp write-ups, said the PM, adding that Begum Rokeya showed the way of light to the backtracked women of the society through her different development works including establishment of educational institutions.Whenever the Awami League came in power, it worked for women development upholding the ideals of Begum Rokeya, Sheikh Hasina said and referred to her government`s steps for development of women, including framing a women development policy, introducing free education and stipends for female students and making laws to stop violence against women.The country`s prime minister, opposition leader and speaker are women, she said, adding that women are also working as ambassadors, judges, secretaries and in different posts of Army, Navy, Air Force, police and Ansar."This development of women is the successful continuation of the implementation of dreams and ideals of Begum Rokeya," the Prime minister said.Meanwhile, different programmes have been chalked out at government and non-government levels across the country to mark the day.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend a programme at city`s Osmani memorial auditorium on the occasion of the Begum Rokeya Day and also the distribution of Rokeya Padak-2016 at 10 am today.Beside this, the Begum Rokeya Day also will be observed at Dhaka University amid due festivity at 9am. A colourful rally will be brought out from the Rokeya Hall at 10 am today.Source: BSS