Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, commonly known as Begum Rokeya, was a prominent Bengali feminist thinker, writer, educator and political activist from British India. She is widely regarded as a pioneer of women's liberation in India and Bangladesh.
Begum Sufia Kamal was a Bangladeshi poet, feminist leader, and political activist. She took part in the Bengali nationalist movement of the 1950s and civil society leader in independent Bangladesh. She led feminist activism and was a president of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad. She died in 1999 and was the first woman to be given a state funeral in Bangladesh.
Zohra Begum Kazi was the first Bengali Muslim female physician. She was awarded Tamgha-e-Pakistan (1964), Begum Rokeya Padak (2002) and Ekushey Padak (2008).
Women in the Pakistan Armed Forces are the female officers who serve in the Pakistan Armed Forces. Women have been taking part in Pakistani military since 1947, after the establishment of Pakistan. In 2006, the first women fighter pilot batch joined the combat aerial mission command of PAF. The Pakistan Navy prohibits women from serving in the combat branch. Rather, they are appointed and serve in operations involving military logistics, staff and senior administrative offices, particularly in the regional and central headquarters. There was a rise in the number of women applying for the combat branch of PAF in 2013.
Khaleda Ekram was a Bangladeshi architect, professor, researcher, and academician. She served as the 12th vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). She was the former dean of the faculty of architecture and planning and head of the department of architecture at BUET. She was the first woman to be appointed as the vice-chancellor of BUET. She held the position from September 2014 until her death in May 2016.
Nurjahan Begum was the first female journalist in Bangladesh and a trailblazer for female journalists in South Asia. Begum was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2011 by the Government of Bangladesh. She served as the editor of Begum magazine.
Begum Rokeya Padak, named after Begum Rokeya, is a Bangladeshi national honour conferred on individual women for their exceptional achievement. The award is given by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. The award recognises the pioneering contribution of an individual in empowering women and raising women's issues.
Feminism in Bangladesh seeks equal rights of women in Bangladesh through social and political change. Article 28 of Bangladesh constitution states that "Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the State and of public life".
Husna Banu Khanam was a Bangladeshi educationist, writer and Nazrul singer. She was a pioneer of Bengali Muslim women journalism. In 1999, she received the Ekushey Padak Award for her contribution in music, and in 2004, she received the Begum Rokeya Medal for her contribution to the socio-economic development of women by the Government of Bangladesh.
AN Mahfuza Khatun was a Bangladeshi journalist, politician, and writer. She was a member of parliament of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad.
Sultana Zaman was a Bangladeshi psychologist, academic, and philanthropist. She was the founder of Bangladesh Protibandhi Foundation (BPF), an organization for the mentally disabled people. She was awarded Begum Rokeya Padak in 2008 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Taiyaba Majumder was a Bangladeshi housewife and recipient of the Begum Rokeya Padak. She was the mother of former Prime Minister as well opposition leader of Bangladesh and B.N.P. Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, former minister Khurshid Jahan (1939–2006), politician Sayeed Iskander (1953–2012) and Shamim Iskander.
Shireen Akhter is a Bangladeshi academic. She is the current and the first female vice chancellor of the University of Chittagong.
Ashraf Ali Khan Khasru is a Bangladesh Awami League politician. He is former State Minister of Social Welfare and State Minister of Fisheries and Livestock. He is the incumbent Jatiya Sangsad member from Netrokona-2 constituency.
Begum Mushtari Shafi was a Bangladeshi writer, entrepreneur, women's leader and social organiser.
Begum Akhtar Jahan is an Awami League politician and former member of parliament.
Mahfuza Khanam is a Bangladeshi academic and social activist. She is the current president of Asiatic Society of Bangladesh since January 2018. She was awarded Begum Rokeya Padak (2012) and Anannya Top Ten Awards (2013).
Monjulika Chakma is a Bangladeshi crafts and weaving entrepreneur. She was awarded Begum Rokeya Padak in 2020 for her contribution to the socio-economic development.
The Bangladesh Army has had women in the officer ranks since its inception in 1971, though women could join as doctors only. Women were not allowed to join as ordinary soldiers till the early part of the 2010s decade. In 2013, it was announced in newspapers through recruitment advertising that women would be recruited as ordinary soldiers in the Army's Medical Corps. In 2015, the country got trained female soldiers for the first time. On the other hand, women can be commissioned in various arms and services of the army since the early 2000s decade.
Halida Hanum Akhtar is a Bangladeshi reproductive health doctor and public health expert. In 2023, she received the Begum Rokeya Padak of the Government of Bangladesh for her special contribution to the establishment of women's rights. She received Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship 2023. She received the 'Developing Countries Award 1995' from the Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany in recognition of her contribution to improving health status of women and children. As a Director-General, Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, with Haiti's Foundation for Reproductive Health and Family Education (FOSREF) has won the 2006's United Nations Population Award. Akhter received the award for her outstanding contribution to raising awareness on family planning and population issues.
Bangladesh 
Bangladesh Army 
Brigadier General 
