::: Star Insight :::

She

From Khulna

Ferdous Ali gets
Independence Day Award

"A woman can shine in any field in practical life if she is supported by her family, particularly her husband"

....................................................
Amanullah Aman

Begum Ferdous Ali

Begum Ferdous Ali is among 23 other women to have received the “Sultana Kamal Independence Day Award”. What makes her special amongst the others is the fact that she is the only one in the country from the South-Western region to have achieved this honor. She was recognized for her outstanding pioneering role and contributions towards sports and athletics for women in the region.

The “Sultana Kamal Independence Day Award” function was held at the Bangladesh Olympic Association in Dhaka on March 31, 2011. The Women's Sports Association has introduced the award for the first time since its establishment in 1972. Thusly they organized the award-giving ceremony in memory of the prominent national athlete Sultana Kamal. The state minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (Retd) AB Tajul Islam had handed over awards, certificates and cheques to the winners.

Begum Ferdous Ali is deserving of the award for her active participation in the field of sports if not also because of her contributions. Her extensive curricula vitae include her being the General Secretary of Khulna Divisional Women's Sports Association (KDWSA) and the Vice President of the Khulna District Sports Association. She is an elected member of the National Women's Sports Complex since 1979, and is an ex-officio member of National sports committee. The list goes on including her being a member of the Kabadi Federation, the Pramila Football Federation and the Women Wing of Cricket Federation.

She was born in 1950 in Faridpur to father Moulavi Muhammad Ayub Khan. She is wife to Alhaj Liaquat Ali, editor of Dainik Purbanchal. A journalist by profession as well, Begum Ferdous Ali is currently Editor of The Daily Tribune published from Khulna city. Her journey in the trade started back in 1973 as a news caster in Khulna station of Bangladesh Betar. A year later she had joined The Dainik Plurbachal as a staff reporter. She joined the Eastern News Agency as its Khulna Correspondent in 1976. She has been in her current job since June, 1978. On top of all that, she has been elected the Khulna Press Club president four times since 1980.

Ferdous Ali was awarded the honor in recognition to excellent performance in spreading sports such as Football, Volleyball, Cricket and Kabadi amongst the women of the south-western region of the country. She has pioneered in the role of organizing training and practice programmes in these sports. Her endeavors have earned these women of the region much success. Khulna division women in cricket and volleyball remain undefeated in the national levels since 1978 under her wing. Other successes under her dynamic leadership and the banner of the KDWSA include numerous gold medals in Kabadi, Swimming and Badminton competitions held at the national level. Her greatest achievement was to have played a vital role in sanctioning Tk. 90,000,000/= from the incumbent government towards constructing a brand new hostel complex for women athletes. The new hostel of the KDWSA promises wide scope for women to undergo further training and practice in sports once implemented.

Begum Ferdous says, “A woman can shine in any field in practical life if she is supported by her family, particularly her husband.”