Aroma Dutta (born 20 July 1950)[1] is a Bangladeshi social and human rights activist. In February 2019, she was nominated by the ruling party, the Bangladesh Awami League, to a seat reserved for women in the 11th parliament of Jatiya Sangsad.[2]
Aroma Dutta | |
|---|---|
আরমা দত্ত | |
| Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Reserved Women's Seat-36 | |
| In office 28 February 2024 – 6 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Syeda Zohora Alauddin |
| Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Reserved Women's Seat-11 | |
| In office 20 February 2019 – 29 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Happy Baral |
| Succeeded by | Farida Yasmin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 July 1950 |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Relatives |
|
| Education | MS, M.I.A |
| Occupation | Human rights activist |
Early life
editDutta's grandfather, Dhirendranath Datta, was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the first person to demand that Bengali be made a state language in Pakistan.[2] He was killed during the Bangladesh Liberation war by members of the Pakistan army and is considered a martyr in Bangladesh.[3] Aroma's father, Sanjib Datta, was a journalist who worked for the Pakistan Observer.[2] Her ancestral home in Brahmanbaria was taken over by Muslims after the Bangladesh Liberation war through the use of the vested property act. She has tried to reclaim it through the local courts but has been unsuccessful.[4] Dutta served in the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh. Her uncle was the filmmaker Ritwik Kumar Ghatak.[5]
Career
editDutta is the executive director of the PRIP (Private Rural Initiatives Program) Trust.[6] In 2012, she criticised the draft Hindu Marriage Registration Act for making the registration of Hindu marriages optional and called for it to be made mandatory.[7] She has protested violence against minorities in Bangladesh and has demanded punishment for those involved in attacks against Buddhists in Cox's Bazar.[8] Dutta has spoken against the vested property act, that unfairly targets religious minorities.[9] She has stated that the only way to protect minorities in Bangladesh is through the proper implementation of laws in the country.[10]
Awards and honors
editIn 2016, Dutta was awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak by the government of Bangladesh.[11] She has called for security forces to be deployed in vulnerable election areas for elections to take place.[12] In May 2017, she received the Danbir Ranada Prasad Memorial Honour and Gold Medal by the Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal, on behalf of her father.[13] She has called on the government to provide social security to Dalits, low caste Hindus, and other marginalised communities at a roundtable discussion in Dhaka.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Constituency 311". www.parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Aroma, Suborna to become MP as Awami League names 41 for reserved seats". bdnews24.com. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ^ "Datta, Dhirendranath". Banglapedia. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Tripathi, Salil (2016). The Colonel Who Would Not Repent: The Bangladesh War and Its Unquiet Legacy. Yale University Press. pp. 286–287. ISBN 978-0-300-21818-3.
- ^ "Ritwik Kumar Ghatak recalled in Rajshahi". The Daily Star. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Aroma Dutta, Noorjahan Begum receive Begum Rokeya Award-2016". bdnews24.com. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Make registration mandatory". The Daily Star. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Punish attackers". The Daily Star. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "'Revise bill on vested property return act'". The Daily Star. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Proper implementation of laws needed". The Daily Star. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Realise your rights by yourselves". The Daily Star. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "'Check if political party charter contradicts constitution'". The Daily Star. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "RP Shaha Award: 3 eminent citizens receive gold medals". The Daily Star. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Social Security for Dalits and Marginalised People". The Daily Star. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.