Ferdousi Priyabhashini

Ferdousi Priyabhashini (19 February 1947 – 6 March 2018) was a Bangladeshi sculptor. She was the first one to publicly announce herself as Birangona, a term coined by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the rape victims of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. Government of Bangladesh awarded her Independence Day Award in 2010.

Early life and career Priyabhashini was born on 19 February 1947 in Khulna, Bangladesh to her parents Rowshan Hasina and Syed Mahbubul Hoque. Priyabhashini was married to an artist in 1963. She worked in a jute mill to support her family, but the financial problems grew and the couple got separated in 1971.

Priyabhashini later became a sculptor. Since 1990, she had displayed her works through exhibitions. Her first exhibition was jointly inaugurated by artist SM Sultan and poet Sufia Kamal, and anchored by Syed Shamsul Haque.

Personal life Priyabhashini married Ahsanullah Ahmed in 1972. Together they have three sons and three daughters. Bengal Foundation, Dhaka, 1994 Jozon Art Gallery, Dhaka, 1994 Bangladesh Shilpokala Academy, Dhaka, 1996 Dhaka Art Centre Gallery, Dhaka, 1996 Bangladesh National Museum, 1999 Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka, 2002 Shilpangan Gallery, Dhaka, 2004 In the Deep Days of Monsoon = Emana ghanaghora barishāẏa, 2004 Shilpangan Gallery, Dhaka, 2006 Branches and twigs = Sā̄khā praśākhā, 2007 Dots Gallery, Dhaka, 2007 Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhaka, 2010 Dhaka Art Centre, Dhaka, 2010 Light and shadow = Raudra chāẏā : duet art exhibition, 2013 Prelude to a monsoon evening = Nāmila Śrābaṇa sandhyā, 2015

Awards Independence Day Award (2010) Hero by the Reader's Digest magazine (2004) Chadernath Podok Ananna Shirshow Podok Silver Jubilee Award by YWCA Human Rights Award by Manabadhikar Sangstha