Bilquis Begum: A prominent Meitei Pangal of Bangladesh
Written by Dr. Syed Ahmed (Associate Professor, Department of History,Dhanamanjuri University,Imphal)
I met Bilquis Begum in January this year in Bangladesh. She is, at present, serving as the Head Master of one of the most popular High Schools in Moulvi Bazaar District. Some of my hosts and acquaintances, during my stay at Adampur Bazaar, in Kamalganj, took me and my wife to her office at the school. She took time out from her busy schedule and sat with us for a short conversation. She introduced the Manipuri staff at the school. We all had tea and snacks. We even took a group photo at her office. She requested us to stay a little longer.
Bilquis Begum had visited Manipur a few years back to attend the Meitei Pangal International Conference organized by AMMOCOC in Manipur. She was one of the delegates, who attended the conference, along with few other prominent Meitei Pangals from Bangladesh.
Bilquis Begum is a highly educated woman of the Meitei Pangal community of Bangladesh. Besides being a teacher and school administrator, she is a social worker and a former Upazilla Parishad. She is a well respected woman in Kamalganj Sub-Division.
Bilquis Begum, alias Lubba, was born to Md. Salah Uddin and Tahera Begum on November 17, 1976 at Nachhratpur in Kamalganj, Moulvi Bazaar.
Bilquis passed SSC from Tetaigaon Rashid Uddin High School in Adampur Bazar in Kamalganj Sub-Division in 1992, and cleared HSC from Shreemangol Government College.
Then, she completed BSc from Moulvi Bazaar Government College in 1997, and Masters from Sub-Bengoli Asian University, Dhaka. Bilquis Begum further studied education. She cleared BEd and MEd from Bangladesh Open University in 2002 and 2011 respectively. She also studied Law. She completed Law from Sylhet Law College in 2007.
Bilquis Begum was also actively engaged in Scouts. She served as DRC of Bangladesh Scouts, Sylhet and the first Udbejar of Bangladesh Scouts of Kamalganj Branch.
Bilquis Begum joined as Assistant Teacher in Kamalganj High School. Therafter, she served as Assitant Head Master of Kamalganj Girls High School. At present, she is holding the charge of Head Master of Tetaigaon Rashid Uddin High School.
Bilquis Begum was also involved in politics. She served as General Secretary of Bangladesh Women Awami League. She also worked as Upazilla Parishad of Kamalganj Sub-Division, and Member of Bar Council.
Bilquis Begum has also been contributing her service for the community. She is actively involved in empowering the womenfolk of her community through education. She has been associated with Bangladesh Manipuri Muslim Educational Trust. The Trust is actively involved in enhancing the educational standard of the Meitei Pangal community through various programs.
Bilquis Begum has also been associating with Manipuru Muslim Teachers’ Forum, Adampur Bazaar.
Bilquis Begum is married to Md. Nurul Islam, who is the Retired Principal of Jagotsi-M Saifur Rahman College, Moulvi Bazaar. The family is staying at VIII-Gulerhaur, in Islamabad, Kamalganj. She has two sona and a daughter. Bilquis Begum and her husband are actively involved in social work.
Bilquis Begum is an educated, hardworking and confident Meitei Pangal woman. I sincerely hope she could play a crucial role in empowering the womenfolk of her community in Bangladesh.