Shireen Huq, also known as Shireen Pervin Huq, is a women's rights activist, [1] and founder of Naripokkho, a woman's rights organization. [2] [3] She is a trustee board member of Gono Bishwabidyalay. [4] She is the co-convener of Bangladesh Civil Society Platform on Justice and Accountability for the Rohingyas. [5]
Huq was one of the founding member of Naripokkho in 1983. [6] [7] She worked for Danish International Development Agency from 1987 to 2006. [8] [9]
Huq signed a letter with 57 other women leaders calling on the government to not interfere with Grameen Bank in August 2012. [10]
In August 2013, Huq called for the government to release Adilur Rahman Khan. [11]
Huq spoked against the short imprisonment of David Bergman for contempt of court in 2015. [12] She is a founding member of the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights. [13] She called Rezaul Karim Bablu, member of parliament, a Neanderthal for his comments blaming feminist of rape. [14]
In 2023, Huq signed a letter criticizing the government treatment of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, warning it could lead to a political crises, and asking the government to send her abroad for treatment. [15] Other signatories included Ali Imam Majumder, Asif Nazrul, CR Abrar, Farida Akhtar, Hafizuddin Khan, Naila Z Khan, Nur Khan, Rahnuma Ahmed, Shahdeen Malik, Shahidul Alam, Sharmeen Murshid, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and Tofail Ahmed. [15]
In February 2024, Huq met with Rear Adm. Eileen Laubacher, special assistant to the president and senior director for South Asia - national security, Afreen Akhter, state department deputy assistant secretary, and Michael Schiffer, assistant administrator of the bureau for Asia, at the United States embassy to discuss democracy and human rights. [16] The meeting was attended by Adilur Rahman Khan, Debapriya Bhattacharya, and Zillur Rahman, host of Tritiyo Matra . [17] After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League government, Huq visited the headquarters of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence to inspect the secret detention facility Aynaghor. [18] She was appointed the chair of the Women Affairs Reform Commission formed by the Muhammad Yunus led Interim government. [19] [20]
Huq married Zafrullah Chowdhury (died 2023), founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra. [21] They have a son, Bareesh Chowdhury, and a daughter, Bristi Chowdhury. [22] Her sister Nasreen Pervin Huq died in a car accident. [23]