Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was a pioneer of women's emancipation and education in undivided Bengal. Born in Pairaband, Rangpur, she is widely regarded as the trailblazer of the feminist movement in South Asia. Her literary masterpieces, including Sultana's Dream (one of the earliest feminist science fiction works in the world), Padmarag, Motichur, and Aborodhbasini, are frequently asked in BCS and other competitive exams.
She established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in 1909 and founded the Anjuman-e-Khawatin-e-Islam (Islamic Women's Association) in 1916 to advocate for women's social status and education. December 9 is officially observed as 'Rokeya Day' in Bangladesh to honor her immense contributions to society.