Raihan Akhter Banu Roni
Raihan Akhter Banu was a member of parliament of Bangladesh and a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She started her political career as a student leader of the then East Pakistan Student League that is currently known as Bangladesh Chhatra League. As an organiser, she actively took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. She was elected as a member of parliament of Bangladesh in the 8th Parliament on the nomination of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She falls in the list of both 20th-century women politicians and 21st-century women politicians, as she started her politics in 1969 and became an MP in 2004.
Early life and education
Raihan Akhter Banu was born to Rowshan Ara and Abdur Rahman Mondal at 'Chalkdev Para' area of Naogaon Town in Naogaon District. She completed her Secondary School Certificate examination from the Central Girls' High School of Naogaon under Rajshahi Board. She appeared in Higher Secondary Certificate examination from the Naogaon Govt. BMC Women's College. Raihan Akhter Banu Roni received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Rajshahi University. Her father was a prominent person of the town. Her paternal Uncle Late Khan Mohammad Basir Uddin Mondal was a politician of the then All-India Muslim League and the then Pakistan Muslim League. Her paternal grandfather Late Zarif Modal was a landlord and rich person of the district. Her elder brother Late Mokhlesur Rahman Raja was a veteran freedom fighter of Bangladesh Liberation War and a former leader of Awami League and Jatiyo Samajtrantic Dal.Late Kasir Uddin Mridha of Rajshahi, a veteran leader of the then All-India Muslim League of Rajshahi in British India, was her maternal grandfather. Her maternal uncle Late Khoda Box Mridha was a famous sports personality of the country. Pola Uddin, Baroness Uddin, a British life peer and community activist of Bangladeshi descent, is a cousin of Raihan Akhter Banu.