Nirupa Dewan is an indigenous rights activist and member of the Women Affairs Reform Commission of the Muhammad Yunus led interim government. [1] former commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. [2] [3] She is a member of the CHT Nagorik Committee. [4] She is a member of the governing body of the Manusher Jonno Foundation. [5]
Dewan was born to Suprava Dewan and Pravat Ranjan Dewan. [6] She established the Moanoghar Supravat Memorial Scholarship with her brother Robin Dewan in memory of their parents. [6] She graduated from Aparnacharan City Corporation Girls' High School and College in 1968 and Chittagong College in 1970. [6] She finished a Bachelor of Arts at Chittagong College in 1973. [6] She completed a B.Ed. and M.Ed. at the Government Teachers' Training College, Dhaka in 1978 and 1991 respectively. [6]
Dewan joined the Rangamati Government Girls' High School in 2005 and retired as the principal in 2009. [6]
On 24 June 2010, President Zillur Rahman appointed Dewan member of the National Human Rights Commission replacing Professor Giasuddin Molla. [7] Mollah had been terminated after his appointment following an allegation of sexual harassment from a student at the University of Dhaka, where he taught. [8]
Dewan participated in a human chain demanding the full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 2013. [9] She visited Banshkhali Upazila after the 2013 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence by Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami. [10] The violence started after the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Delwar Hossain Sayeedi to death for war crimes during the Bangladesh Liberation War. [10] She demanded an investigation into the attack on the Chakma queen, Rani Yan Yan, by security forces after she went to visit two Marma sisters raped by security personnel. [11] [12] In 2019, she received the IPDC-Prothom-alo Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona Award from Prothom Alo and IPDC Finance Limited. [13]
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Dewan met with the chief advisor Muhammad Yunus of the interim government at Jamuna State Guest House along with other women leaders. [14] [15] She was included in a Women Affairs Reform Commission established by the new regime. [1] She attended a meeting of the Constitutional Reform Commission led by Professor Ali Riaz in November 2024. [4]
Dewan is the vice president of Moanoghar, a non-profit founded by Buddhist monks for development work in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. [16] [17] Regarding the Kuki-Chin National Front she said, “Even a child could say who are behind the KNF, especially after watching their activities. Such groups work to destroy the main spirit of peace accord. And a powerful clique has been fanning them from behind. But this is nothing new in the hills. The government should never entertain them.” [18] [19]