Today is the 30th anniversary of the death of writer and political activist Jahanara Imam, who pioneered the campaign for the trial of 1971 war criminals.
Born on May 3, 1929 in a progressive Muslim family in Murshidabad of West Bengal in India, Jahanara Imam relentlessly campaigned for materialisation of the spirit of the War of Independence.
She continues to be a source of inspiration for her patriotism, devotion, sacrifice and struggle.
Her son Shafi Imam Rumi fought for the independence of the country in 1971 instead of availing the opportunity of studying engineering in the USA, and embraced martyrdom.
On June 21, 2012, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 indicted Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed for killing Rumi.
Ignoring the pains she had been suffering as a throat cancer patient for long, Jahanara took the initiative to form 鈥楪hatak Dalal Nirmul Committee鈥�, and led the movement for holding the trial of the war criminals of 1971.
She also took the initiative to constitute a 鈥楪ana Adalat鈥� or 鈥榩eople鈥檚 court鈥�, which on March 26, 1992 held a mock trial of war criminals in front of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.
The people鈥檚 court found Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam guilty of war crimes, deserving death penalty.
Jahanara is also remembered for her book 鈥楨kattarer Dinguli鈥� and several other books.
Many students remember her as a teacher, especially as the headmistress of Siddheswari Girls鈥� High School.
Jahanara Imam passed away at a Michigan hospital in the USA on June 26, 1994.