As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Bangladesh Feminist Archives is highlighting feminists who have broken barriers and reshaped history. Throughout this month, we will honor those who have challenged power, fought for justice, and redefined possibilities.
Jahanara Imam (1929–1994) was a writer, educator, and activist whose relentless fight for justice made her an icon of resistance in Bangladesh. Best known as the “Mother of Martyrs” (Shaheed Janani), she turned her personal loss into a national movement, demanding accountability for the war crimes committed during the Liberation War of 1971.
Jahanara Imam’s life changed forever when her son, Shafi Imam Rumi, a freedom fighter, was captured and killed by the Pakistani military. In her powerful memoir, Ekattorer Dinguli (The Days of ’71), she documented the horrors of war, offering one of the most personal and raw accounts of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. Her writing became a testament to the sacrifices made during the war and inspired generations to continue the fight for justice.
In the 1990s, she led the Gonojagoron Andolon (People’s Movement), a historic movement demanding the trial of war criminals from 1971. Facing threats, harassment, and political resistance, she fearlessly mobilized people across Bangladesh, making transitional justice a public demand. Her leadership played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the eventual International Crimes Tribunal, which prosecuted those responsible for wartime atrocities.
Despite facing relentless government crackdowns and smear campaigns, Jahanara Imam refused to be silenced. She became a symbol of defiance against impunity, proving that the voices of the oppressed could not be erased. Until her passing in 1994, she remained a fearless advocate for truth and justice, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire activists today.
Resistance is memory. Jahanara Imam ensured that the stories of 1971 would not be forgotten. Her fight for justice was not just about the past—it was about shaping a future where accountability and truth prevail.
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Bangladesh Feminist Archives 