Ivy Rahman

Rahman was the founding organizing secretary of Awami League's Women's wing,[3] Mohila Awami League, established by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1969.[1] She was elected Women Affairs Secretary of Awami League Central Working Committee in 1978 and 2 years later she became the President of Mohila Awami League. She had served in those positions until 2002.[1]

From 1996 to 2001, Ivy served as the chair of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha and Bangladesh Jatiya Mohila Samabaya Samity. She was the President of Mohila Samity and General Secretary of Bangladesh Andhakalyan Samity until her death.[1]

Rahman was born in Bhairab Upazila, Kishoreganj District.[1] She was the fifth among the eleven children of the Principal of Dhaka College, Jalal Uddin Ahmed and Hasina Begum.[1] Her elder sister Shamsur Nahar Siddique is the mother-in-law of Bangladesh Awami League politician Sheikh Rehana.[1] She married fellow Awami League politician Zillur Rahman on 27 June 1958,[1] when she was 24 years old and he was 29 years old. Zillur Rahman became the 15th President of Bangladesh in 2009. They had two daughters - Tania and Monia and one son - Nazmul Hasan.[1] Her son Nazmul Hasan Papon is an Awami League member of parliament and president of Bangladesh Cricket Board.[4]

On 21 August 2004, Rahman was present at an Awami League political rally in Dhaka.[5] After the speech by Sheikh Hasina ended, terrorists launched a co-ordinated grenade attack on the Awami league leaders.[6] Ivy Rahman was injured in the grenade blast, and both of her legs were blown off. After 3 days, she died on 24 August 2004, in the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. She was buried in Banani Graveyard. [7]