S. M. Anwara Begum

S. M. Anwara Begum is a Bangladeshi academic, retired professor of political science, and veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War. She served as a faculty member at Jagannath University (JnU) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she was the chairwoman of the Department of Political Science and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Early life Begum was born on 12 February 1956. She completed her PhD at Jahangir University.

Legal issues After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Begum was arrested in May 2025 in connection with an attempted murder case related to an attack on protesters during the July uprising in the previous year. The arrest occurred in the afternoon near the Jagannath University campus, as confirmed by Sutrapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam. The case was filed by Sujon Molla, the former general secretary of the university's unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, who was shot in the eye during an anti-discrimination student protest.

According to Prothom Alo, actress Nusrat Faria received swift bail after her arrest in an attempted murder case, following public outcry. In contrast, retired Begum, accused in a similar case, was denied bail and remained in jail.

Personal life Bengum is married to Dr. Md. Mahmudur Rahman, a retired additional secretary of the Bangladesh Civil Service.