This year, the government awarded the Ekushey Padak 2025 - the country's second-highest civilian award - to 14 eminent citizens and the Bangladesh Women's National Football Team on February 20, in recognition of their contributions to their respective fields. Among these luminaries, the only standout artist representing the country's art sphere was the pioneering Bangladeshi artist and art maestro Professor Rokeya Sultana, who received this honor in the 'Painting' category.

In a candid interview with Dhaka Courier ahead of this year's International Women's Day 2025, which will be celebrated globally on Saturday, March 8, under the theme "Accelerate Action," the artist shared her journey and inspiration leading her to this monumental achievement.

"Art to me is an inspiration, a mirror, a bridge. In this mirror, I see Bangladesh - its people, its great freedom struggle, its language, its culture, its diverse nature. In this mirror, I see strong women like my predecessors, Begum Rokeya, Begum Shamsunnahar, Sufia Kamal - and I see women workers working in the garment industry. Women in Bangladesh have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go," according to Rokeya Sultana, the pioneering Bangladeshi artist who won several major accolades in her life and achieved glory for the nation. She was the first female artist from the country participating in the prestigious Asian Art Biennale, the National Art Exhibition and many other revered art competitions; the first female student of Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art to pursue and complete her Masters from Vishwa Bharati University in Shantiniketan, India; the first teacher who joined the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art at the Printmaking department with both BFA and MFA specialisations in Printmaking, and the first in many other artistic endeavours representing her motherland. A widely revered artist and art educationist in the country, Sultana's artworks have not only gained popularity and brought prestige to the nation but also inspired several generations of artists to pursue their artistic careers.

An internationally recognized versatile female artist, art educator and a Fulbright Fellow, Rokeya Sultana's deep and unique artistic expression has made her one of the most significant contemporary painters in South Asia. From childhood, Rokeya had a deep passion for art, which was shaped by her experiences of living in different countries and being a refugee during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. These experiences later influenced her artwork. She studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, and at Santiniketan, where she mastered various artistic techniques. Her journey took her to the international stage, with a residency at L'Atelier Lacourière et Frélaut in Paris, which further enriched her artistic career.

As per her artistic style and themes, Rokeya Sultana moves seamlessly between abstract and figurative art. She uses different mediums-canvas, printmaking, and metal sculptures-but always ensures that the medium enhances the message, not the other way around. Her tools, from paintbrushes to printmaking rollers and welding electrodes, become an extension of her emotions and thoughts. One of her standout works is 'Fata Morgana', where she visually represents a mirage, capturing the contrast between human desires, dreams, and reality.

In her popular series 'Madonna' and 'Earth, Water, Air', Rokeya attempts to break free from personal and societal illusions. Though these works differ in their artistic approach, both are deeply personal reflections of her journey as an artist and a human being.

"To me, the 'Madonna' series portrays the struggles of a middle-class mother," Rokeya Sultana told Dhaka Courier. Through these paintings, she depicts a working mother battling societal, economic, and environmental challenges to raise her daughter as an independent and strong individual. It captures the dual pressures of maternal love and responsibility on one hand and the longing for personal freedom within a restrictive society on the other.

"From a feminist perspective, 'Madonna' is not just a personal story - it is a powerful statement on women's survival in a patriarchal world. A mother's struggle isn't just for her child; it is also for her dreams, freedom, and identity. 'Madonna' embodies this fight, showing both the tenderness of motherhood and the determination to break social barriers. In global art history, Madonna paintings have inspired many artists," Rokeya Sultana said.

From Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna of the Rocks to Raphael's Sistine Madonna and Edvard Munch's Madonna, Rokeya Sultana's 'Madonna' stands among them with its own unique voice.

Rokeya Sultana is also known for her unique pressure print series 'Fata Morgana', translating mirage-like forms onto paper. Several works, like those in 'Earth Water Air', are abstract interpretations of the Bangladeshi landscape. Through the 'Earth Water Air' series, she highlights the shrinking of land, the loss of rivers and wetlands, and the increasing pollution of air. Her art is not just about capturing nature-it is also a wake-up call.

"Bangladesh, being the land of rivers and fertile lands, has been the home of many 'fakhirs', folk artists, amd sufi, who lived by the waters. They expressed their life's ebb and flows through the 'Bhatiali' and 'Bhawaiya' genres of songs. My work is a reflection of their lives," according to Rokeya Sultana. "In my 'Earth, Water and Air' and 'Fata Morgana' series, the medium I used is called Monotype Pressure Prints - a series of new techniques that I learnt during my Fulbright scholarship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I make the colors myself using different pigments. It's Tempera and Unique pressure print... the layer after layer of colors represent the generations that have come and gone - the times that have come and gone. This work can be seen as the rhythm at which the Quran is recited or the rhythm of the Bauls or Sufis," the artist told DC.

At present, Rokeya Sultana divides her time between Dhaka and Sydney, working in her studios in both cities. Her art blends modern and traditional styles, enriching Bangladesh's artistic heritage - but she is more than just an artist; she is an ambassador of Bangladeshi art on the global stage. Her paintings are a reflection of society, culture, history, and personal experiences, touching the hearts of art lovers worldwide.

On the stage, while receiving the Ekushey Padak, the eminent artist stated: "I am deeply grateful to the Government of Bangladesh for honouring me with the Ekushey Padak, and also thanks to those who nominated me. Today, at the moment of this achievement, I deeply remember my mother, Mohsena Khatun and father, Chowdhury Abdul Ghaffar (a heroic freedom fighter and former Superintendent of Police). They sowed the seeds of my intense love for art. Despite all the odds, they gave me the opportunity to walk this path. Thanks to my husband and daughter, who have stood by me and given me social strength."

"Special thanks to my great teachers at Dhaka Fine Arts Institute and Santiniketan. A special place in my heart belongs to Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's direct student Mohammad Kibria Sir, who was not only a teacher but also a father figure. He was once awarded this same title. These are the people who gave me strength, and I also tried to give that strength to my art and my daughter," she stated.

During this interview with Dhaka Courier, Rokeya Sultana said that she believes in a particular motto: "The journey of victory and defeat is life - it cannot stop anywhere, it must not be stopped anywhere."

"Our women have been working tirelessly at various levels of society, but many are unable to cope with various setbacks. If my art and overall creative endeavors can add even a small step to this journey, I will feel blessed - and thus, I dedicated my Ekushey Padak to the women in various roles at home and abroad who are presenting Bangladesh to the world," Rokeya Sultana told DC.