A Biography of Dr. Sultana Zaman

Introduction

22 March 2020. An elderly woman lay in a house in Uttara, Dhaka. She was 87 years old. Her body was weakened by age-related complications. Her condition had been deteriorating since 20 March. That morning, she suddenly opened her eyes, looked at an old photograph hanging on the wall—a picture of her husband, Bir Uttam Kazi Nuruzzaman—and smiled faintly. Then she closed her eyes forever. Dr. Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman, known simply as Sultana Zaman, was gone. She left behind an invaluable legacy—Bangladesh’s disability education and rehabilitation sector.

As news spread, a shadow of grief fell over the Dhaka University campus. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Akhtaruzzaman, issued a condolence message. Teachers and students of the Special Education department broke down in tears. The Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation, Shishu Bikash Clinic, Deepshikha School—the institutions she built—hoisted black flags. Her comrades from the Liberation War came to bid her a final farewell. But she had never wanted any ostentation at her death. A simple Janaza, then the grave. Her wish was fulfilled. This report presents the complete story of that reclusive warrior—from childhood trauma in the aristocratic family of Pakshi village, Jhenaidah, to professorship at Dhaka University, from the battlefields of the Liberation War to a PhD at Emory University in the USA, from embarking on a journey for children with disabilities to her last breath—the life story of an extraordinary woman.

At a Glance: Life of Dr. Sultana Zaman

Information	Details	Thriller Note
Full Name	Dr. Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman	‘Sultana’ means queen’s consort; she herself was the sultana of the women’s world
Nickname	Sultana Zaman	The whole of Bangladesh knows her by this name
Birth	9 June 1932, Pakshi village, Jhenaidah, British India (present-day Bangladesh)	Born into a respectable Muslim family in the final phase of British rule
Death	22 March 2020, Dhaka (aged 87)	Bid farewell due to age-related complications
Father’s Name	Khan Bahadur Mohammad Sirajul Islam	Zamindar, lawyer, and social worker
Mother’s Name	Rahat Ara Begum	Litterateur and poet
Grandfather	Jamal Uddin Khan	Zamindar of Jhenaidah
Husband	Lt. Col. Kazi Nuruzzaman (Bir Uttam)	Commander of Sector 7 during the Liberation War, political analyst, and columnist
Children	3; two daughters (Naila Z. Khan and Lubna Mariam) and one son (Nadim Omar, predeceased)	Naila is a professor of child neurology; Lubna is a renowned dancer
Education	Matric (1948), HSC (1950), Bachelor’s (Holy Cross College), MA (Psychology, Dhaka University 1967), PhD (Psychology, Emory University, USA 1975)	Earned her PhD at age 48—lifelong dedication to learning
Profession	From Assistant Professor to Professor and Department Head (Dhaka University 1967-2000), Visiting Professor (Manchester University, USA 1992)	Nearly 33 years of teaching
Highest Recognition	Professor Emeritus (2008), Begum Rokeya Padak (2008), Henry H. Kessler Award (1996)	State and international honours
Notable Institutions	Shishu Bikash Clinic (1967), Deepshikha School (1972), Society for Welfare of Intellectual Disability (1977), Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation and Kalyan School (1984), Special Education Department, IER, Dhaka University (1993)	In a word, the backbone of Bangladesh’s disability education
Special Identity	Freedom Fighter (operated an Advanced Dressing Station in 1971), Birangana rehabilitation worker	Fierce war heroine, not just a teacher but a warrior, honoured with the title ‘Reclusive Warrior’

Hidden in the gaps of each line of the table are a woman’s struggle, sacrifice, and success. Particularly noteworthy is the ‘Children’ column: the premature death of her son Nadim—a pain that only made her stronger.

Early Life and Family Background (1932-1947)

On 9 June 1932, in Pakshi village of Jessore district (present-day Jhenaidah district, Bangladesh) in undivided Bengal, British India, Sultana Sarwat Ara Zaman was born. Her father, Khan Bahadur Mohammad Sirajul Islam, was a renowned zamindar, lawyer, and social worker of contemporary Bengal. The British government had honoured him with the title ‘Khan Bahadur’ for his exceptional service to the community. He was an educated man with progressive thoughts, believing strongly in the power of education to transform society. Besides zamindari and legal practice, he also pursued literature, writing essays and articles on social reform. Her mother, Rahat Ara Begum, was a renowned poet and litterateur whose verses appeared regularly in prominent Bengali newspapers and literary magazines. Rahat Ara Begum’s writings boldly addressed women’s awakening, social equality, and the need for female education at a time when such topics were considered taboo. Her grandfather, Jamal Uddin Khan, was the esteemed zamindar of Jhenaidah, known for his fair administration and philanthropic activities.

Sultana Zaman’s childhood was spent in a deeply literary and cultured environment. Literary pursuits, poetry recitations, intellectual discussions, and debates were regular occurrences at home. Prominent writers, poets, and thinkers of the era would often visit their residence, exposing young Sultana to a world of ideas and creativity. She was the fourth among eight siblings, each of whom would go on to achieve distinction in their respective fields. One of her brothers, Jamal Nazrul Islam, became a renowned physicist, professor, and National Professor of Bangladesh, internationally acclaimed for his work on twistor theory and general relativity. Another brother was actively involved in Awami League politics, fighting for democracy and Bengali rights. Growing up in such a prosperous, progressive, and intellectually vibrant family deeply influenced Sultana Zaman’s mental and emotional development. From a very young age, she would read her mother’s poetry manuscripts, losing herself in the rhythm and power of words. She would also curiously examine her father’s legal documents, trying to understand the complexities of law and justice. Her elder siblings took an active role in her education, teaching her English, Bengali, arithmetic, and history at home.

But at just seven years old, disaster struck her young life with brutal force. Around 1939, her mother, Rahat Ara Begum, died prematurely. The exact cause of her death remains unclear, but it was sudden and devastating. This death was a shattering blow to little Sultana. Her mother was not just a parent but her primary emotional anchor, her first teacher, and the source of her literary inspiration. Losing her mother left Sultana utterly disoriented and heartbroken. To make matters worse, her father, unable to cope with the immense grief of losing his beloved wife, broke down mentally and emotionally. According to multiple family sources and historical accounts, Mohammad Sirajul Islam eventually renounced family life entirely and became an ascetic, withdrawing from worldly responsibilities. Little Sultana was suddenly left feeling helpless and abandoned at a tender age when she needed parental love the most. Her elder sister and other relatives stepped in to take responsibility for the younger children’s care and upbringing. During this difficult period, she spent some time at her maternal uncle’s house in Calcutta, the cultural capital of Bengal. There, she enrolled in Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ High School, a prestigious institution founded by the legendary social reformer and feminist icon Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain. This proved to be a transformative experience. In the hallways and classrooms of that school, she breathed the air of Rokeya’s ideals—women’s emancipation, rational thinking, and service to humanity.

This childhood trauma—motherlessness and paternal separation—painful as it was, paradoxically provided the deep emotional motivation for her later life’s humanitarian work. Having experienced profound loss and helplessness herself, she developed an extraordinary capacity to empathize with the suffering of others. She realized viscerally the pain of helpless children and the deep-seated suffering of neglected women. This lived experience inspired her to dedicate her life to working for children with disabilities and the underprivileged, who she saw as facing a similar kind of social abandonment. Her childhood friend Bilkis Begum later recalled in an interview, “Sultana was very sensitive from a very young age. I remember one afternoon, seeing a crippled bird struggling to fly, she burst into uncontrollable sobs. She held the bird gently in her palms and whispered, ‘I will take care of you.’ At that moment, I understood that she would grow up to work for the helpless.” This anecdote perfectly captures the essence of Sultana Zaman’s character—deep empathy combined with a fierce determination to act.

She began her formal primary education at a local school in Jhenaidah, where teachers quickly noticed her sharp intellect and eagerness to learn. Later, she enrolled in the English-medium Diocesan School in Calcutta, one of the city’s most respected educational institutions for girls. While studying in Calcutta, she gained admission to Sakhawat Memorial Girls’ High School in 1943, immersing herself fully in Begum Rokeya’s vision of empowered, educated women who would lead society toward progress. There, she was deeply influenced by Rokeya’s groundbreaking feminist writings, particularly ‘Sultana’s Dream’, which imagined a woman-led utopia. After the traumatic Partition of India in 1947, her family left Calcutta and moved to Chittagong in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). She studied from class eight to ten at Aparnacharan City Corporation Girls’ High School in Chittagong and passed the Matriculation (SSC) examination in 1948 with first division marks. Subsequently, she passed her HSC from Chittagong College, again performing excellently. One of her teachers, Mrs. Sadia Rahman, later said, “Sultana was so extraordinarily attentive to her studies that she would not notice anything happening around her when she was reading. She had this remarkable ability to focus completely, shutting out all distractions.” This fierce perseverance and single-minded dedication propelled her forward through every subsequent challenge in her life.

Marriage, Family, and Path to Higher Education (1951-1967)

In 1951, at the tender age of just 19, Sultana Zaman was married to a promising young army officer named Kazi Nuruzzaman. They were introduced at a family gathering in Dhaka, where an instant intellectual connection was sparked between them. Kazi Nuruzzaman was an officer in the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR), and would later become the valiant commander of Sector 7 during the Liberation War, receiving the prestigious Bir Uttam award for his exceptional bravery and leadership. He was highly intelligent, well-read, progressive in his outlook, and remarkably open-minded for a man of his era. Unlike many conservative husbands of the 1950s, he actively encouraged his wife’s intellectual ambitions. After marriage, Sultana Zaman moved to Dhaka, where she first enrolled at Holy Cross College and earned her Bachelor’s (BA) degree. During this time, with her husband’s enthusiastic encouragement, she developed a deep and abiding interest in psychology. Kazi Nuruzzaman himself read psychology books and would share them with her, engaging in late-night discussions about the human mind, behavior, and mental health. Once, he told her with conviction, “Only when you understand the complexities of the human mind can you truly serve society and heal its deepest wounds.”

Alongside managing all household responsibilities and caring for three growing children, Sultana Zaman enrolled in the prestigious Psychology department at Dhaka University. Her first child, Naila Z. Khan, was born in 1954; her second daughter, Lubna Mariam, was born in 1956; and her son, Nadim Omar, was born in 1960. Despite being a mother of three young children, she never once stopped her studies or compromised on her academic goals. Sultana Zaman established a highly disciplined routine for household chores. She would wake up at 5 AM every day, prepare the children for school, pack their lunches, see them off, then rush to the university for classes, spending hours in the library until noon. She would return home in the afternoon to teach the children, help them with homework, cook dinner, and then study again late into the night, often until midnight. Her husband, Kazi Nuruzzaman, was her pillar of strength throughout this demanding period. He not only encouraged her emotionally but also actively helped with household chores and childcare, a rarity among Bengali husbands of that conservative era. He would bathe the children, read them stories, put them to bed, and even help with cooking when needed. Kazi Nuruzzaman once declared publicly, “If my wife wants to acquire knowledge, I will remove all obstacles from her path. Because acquiring knowledge is not just a man’s right—it is every woman’s fundamental right.” This kind of active, unconditional spousal support was extraordinarily rare in the 1950s and 60s, and it made all the difference in Sultana Zaman’s journey.

In 1967, after years of relentless hard work, sacrifice, and balancing countless responsibilities, she earned her MA in Psychology from Dhaka University. She secured first class first position in the university examinations, an outstanding achievement that stunned everyone who knew her. Professors and fellow students were amazed at her success, given that she had accomplished this feat while being a devoted mother of three. Her result became a talking point in academic circles—proof that women could excel at the highest levels of education regardless of domestic burdens. Immediately after passing her MA, she joined the Psychology department at Dhaka University as an Assistant Professor. That day marked the beginning of her long, impactful journey of teaching and social work, a journey that would continue for over three decades. One of her first batch students, Professor Dr. Mezbah Uddin Ahmed, later recalled, “When Sultana Madam entered the classroom for the first time, there was an unusual energy. She did not simply read from textbooks; she explained concepts with vivid real-life examples, drawing from her own experiences and observations. She made psychology come alive for us.”

Establishment of Shishu Bikash Clinic (1967)

After joining as an Assistant Professor, the very first task Sultana Zaman undertook was nothing short of revolutionary for its time. She established the ‘Shishu Bikash Clinic’ (Child Development Clinic) under the Department of Psychiatry at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. This was Bangladesh’s first institution where physical, mental, and intellectual developmental problems of children with disabilities could be properly diagnosed and treated. At that time, there was no proper healthcare infrastructure for such children in Bangladesh, which was then East Pakistan. Parents of children with disabilities were completely helpless, confused, and ashamed. Many, out of social stigma, shame, or sheer discouragement, kept their children confined at home, hidden away from neighbors and relatives. Some even considered their children’s conditions as divine punishment or the result of black magic. One distraught parent broke down in Sultana Zaman’s office and told her, “Everyone mocks our son, calling him ‘mad’ and ‘possessed’. We keep him hidden in a back room so that no one sees him.” Sultana Zaman listened patiently, then explained gently but firmly, “He is your precious child, just with special needs. Give him a chance with proper care and education. He can learn many things and live a dignified life.”

The Shishu Bikash Clinic started humbly in a small, cramped room in the Psychiatry department at Dhaka Medical College. The initial setup was modest: a wooden desk, a few worn-out chairs, some colorful toys to engage children, and basic diagnostic test equipment. There was no funding, no dedicated staff, and no institutional support. Sultana Zaman herself would sit at the clinic three days a week, often staying well past office hours. She personally conducted diagnostic assessments, provided counseling to distraught parents, and trained them in simple techniques for caring for and educating children with disabilities at home. Within the first month of its quiet opening, nearly a hundred children had been enrolled, their desperate parents having heard through word of mouth about this strange new clinic. Some children were autistic, some had Down syndrome, some had cerebral palsy, others had various physical or intellectual disabilities. Sultana Zaman introduced separate, individualized diagnostic tests for each child—a groundbreaking step in a context where such individualized attention was virtually unheard of. This clinic laid the foundational stone for all her subsequent institutions. From this intimate, hands-on clinical experience, she arrived at a pivotal realization: medical treatment alone, while necessary, was simply not enough for these children. What they desperately needed was specialized education tailored to their unique needs. Hence, she later focused all her energy on establishing dedicated schools, training programs, and academic departments.

Sultana Zaman in the Liberation War (1971)

When the Pakistani occupation army began their brutal, systematic genocide on the dark night of 25 March 1971—Operation Searchlight—Sultana Zaman did not remain silent or flee to safety. Her husband, Kazi Nuruzzaman, was serving in the EPR at the time and became actively engaged in the resistance from the very first hour of the Liberation War. He would later serve with extraordinary valor as the commander of Sector 7 of the Mukti Bahini. Sultana Zaman herself participated directly in the war effort. But she did not carry a rifle; instead, she chose a weapon equally vital—medical care. She established and personally operated an Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) in the ‘Shona Masjid’ (Golden Mosque) area of Chapainawabganj, near the Indian border. The Shona Masjid was an ancient, historically significant structure from the Sultanate period, built over a Hindu temple. There was no proper hospital or clinic anywhere in that war-ravaged region. She improvised courageously, converting a tin-shed room and an abandoned, dilapidated old school building into makeshift wards. Sultana Zaman herself would clean suppurating wounds, do complex dressings under fire, administer saline drips, and inject antibiotics. At times, with no surgeon available, she even had to perform minor surgeries using whatever instruments she could find.

Once, a group of fifteen freedom fighters, severely injured in a fierce battle with Pakistani forces, were brought to her ADS. Many had bullets still lodged deep inside their bodies, with blood gushing from multiple wounds. Sultana Zaman worked continuously for thirty-six grueling hours, without a single minute of sleep and barely any food or water. She personally stitched up a young fighter who was vomiting blood, saving his life with her bare hands. Local freedom fighters, witnessing her tireless dedication and courage, began calling her with deep respect ‘Apa’ (elder sister) and ‘Mother Birangana’. On one terrifying occasion, when Pakistani forces advanced dangerously close to her location, she organized the transportation of all wounded fighters by small country boats under the pitch-black cover of night, crossing the treacherous river to India. For this exceptional bravery, the freedom fighters gave her two enduring titles: ‘Bhai Nurse’ (Brother Nurse) for her technical competence and ‘Birangana’ (war heroine) for her courage.

Additionally, throughout the war, she quietly began the extremely sensitive work of rehabilitating tortured women, known as Biranganas, and their children. Many women had been systematically raped, brutalized, and tortured by the Pakistani army and their local collaborators. Sultana Zaman brought many such women from the Jessore and Rajshahi regions to Dhaka, often at great personal risk, providing them with medical care, psychological counseling, legal aid, and safe shelter. In one poignant memoir, she later wrote, “I felt unbearable pain seeing those girls. Among them were rape survivors, those who had lost their husbands, those who had lost their children, those who had been abandoned by their own families. I would put my hand gently on their trembling shoulders and say, ‘You are not alone. I am here with you. I will stand by you.'” For this profound contribution to the Liberation War, she has been honoured throughout her life. In 2011, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs of Bangladesh officially honoured her as an ‘Immortal Woman of the Liberation War’.

Post-Independence Rehabilitation of Biranganas and Deepshikha School (1972)

During the chaotic post-independence reconstruction period, when the newly born nation was struggling to heal its countless wounds, Sultana Zaman did not rest. She first focused intensively on rehabilitating the tortured women and orphaned children left shattered by the war. She personally lobbied government officials and raised funds from private donors. One day, she secured an appointment with the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and presented the desperate condition of the Biranganas directly to him. She demanded special state assistance for their rehabilitation, including medical care, vocational training, and social reintegration programs. Bangabandhu listened to her with rapt attention and immediately took measures to provide support.

In the same historic year, 1972, she established ‘Deepshikha School’ (Deepshikha meaning ‘Flame of a Lamp’), a name symbolizing the light of hope in darkness. This organization provides free education and vocational training for children and women from desperately poor, low-income families living in Dhaka’s sprawling, neglected slums, particularly in Kamrangirchar and Mohammadpur. The school’s first address was a humble rented house in Mohammadpur with a leaky roof. During the day, young children received primary and pre-primary education. In the afternoon, adult women received vocational training in sewing, computer skills, handicrafts, mat weaving, and food processing. Sultana Zaman herself taught many of these classes, personally training hundreds of women. To date, thousands of marginalized women have become self-reliant through Deepshikha School, many going on to establish their own small businesses. This school still operates actively and has special classes and therapy provisions for children with disabilities.

PhD in the USA and Research at Emory University (1972-1975)

While working intensively with children with disabilities and their families, Sultana Zaman realized that her existing knowledge was insufficient. She needed deeper, more systematic understanding. She decided resolutely to pursue higher degrees in Developmental Psychology and Special Education, fields then virtually unknown in Bangladesh. In 1972, she enrolled in the PhD program at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. She was then about 40 years old. Many relatives, friends, and even some colleagues discouraged her harshly, saying it was not practically possible to go abroad to study at that advanced age. Moreover, she was the single mother of three children, with heavy domestic responsibilities. Some even said cruelly, “Going abroad leaving children behind is not the work of a proper Bengali woman. What will people say?” But Sultana Zaman was made of sterner stuff. She was absolutely resolute. Her husband, Kazi Nuruzzaman, as always, fully supported her decision and made elaborate arrangements for the children’s care during her absence.

In the United States, she threw herself into research with youthful energy and rigor. She spent countless hours in the university library, reading journals, conducting experiments, analyzing data. In 1975, after three years of intense effort, she earned her PhD in Psychology. Her doctoral research topic was ‘Early Detection of Delays and Disabilities in Child Development in Resource-Poor Settings’. She developed a low-cost, easy-to-administer screening test that could be used by minimally trained health workers in villages. This tool is still used in various countries in South Asia and Africa today, a lasting testament to her practical vision. Her PhD supervisor, Professor Dr. Lawrence Harper of Emory University, later recalled, “Sultana was one of the oldest students I ever supervised, but also one of the most serious, dedicated, and brilliant. Once, she stayed in the lab analyzing research data continuously for seventy-two hours, refusing to sleep until she had cracked a particularly complex statistical problem. I had never seen such determination.” Through this experience, she definitively proved that age is never a barrier to the pursuit of knowledge and that women could excel at the highest levels of international academia.

Role as Professor and Department Head (1975-2000)

After returning home with her hard-earned PhD, Sultana Zaman joined the Psychology department at Dhaka University as a full Professor. Later, she also became the department head, the first woman to hold that position. She taught Developmental Psychology and Abnormal Psychology, always sharing vivid, real-field experiences from her clinic and schools. Her lectures were legendary; students from other departments would sneak in to listen. She would tell her students bluntly, “If you don’t know how to properly touch a distressed autistic child, your degree is worthless. Theory without compassionate practice is empty.” She would take her students on field tours to the Shishu Bikash Clinic at Dhaka Medical College, making them interact directly with children with disabilities. She retired from regular teaching in 2000 but continued her duties voluntarily as an advisor. In 2008, she was honoured with the title ‘Professor Emeritus’, the highest recognition Dhaka University can bestow upon a faculty member.

Visiting Professor – Manchester University, USA (1992)

From April to August 1992, for four months, she served as a Visiting Professor at Manchester University in the United States. She presented Bangladesh’s innovative Special Education model and community-based rehabilitation methods to Western academics. Her presentation was highly praised and sparked interest in South Asian disability models. She used the opportunity to learn modern methods of Special Education and Developmental Psychology from various parts of the world, later applying them in Bangladesh.

SWID (SUID Bangladesh) Establishment (1977)

In 1977, Sultana Zaman created a groundbreaking institution—the ‘Society for the Welfare of Children with Intellectual Disability’ (SWID), later popularly known as ‘SUID Bangladesh’. This was Bangladesh’s first organization dedicated exclusively to providing schooling, therapy centres, and parenting counseling for children with intellectual disabilities. Here, children were taught daily living skills such as brushing teeth, wearing clothes, and eating independently, alongside primary academics, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Separate, dedicated counseling was available for parents. Many parents initially, feeling deep shame and social stigma, were reluctant to bring their children. Sultana Zaman herself would go door-to-door in poor neighborhoods, patiently convincing them. She would say, “These children are not a burden. They are your precious children. They just need a little extra care and patience. Give them that, and they will surprise you.” She organized awareness sessions with parents and also involved local religious leaders such as imams and madrasa teachers, along with school teachers. At least 5,000 families have benefited through SUID Bangladesh to date.

Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF) and Kalyan School (1984)

In 1984, she established the ‘Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation’ (BPF), a non-profit organization aiming to provide comprehensive education, medical care, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities for persons with all types of disabilities. Under BPF, a special school named ‘Kalyan School’ was launched with an ‘Individualized Education Plan’ (IEP) curriculum, customized for each child’s unique needs. The school has specially trained teachers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists. BPF also conducts vocational training in printing, sewing, computer operation, microcredit programs, healthcare services, and awareness campaigns for adults with disabilities. This foundation is now government-recognized and is a key national partner in disability development programs. As of 2024, BPF serves approximately 10,000 children and adults with disabilities each year across its multiple branches.

Establishment of the Special Education Department at Dhaka University (1993)

In 1993, Sultana Zaman accomplished the single most important task of her entire life. She launched a full-fledged ‘Special Education’ department under the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at Dhaka University. She faced extremely strong opposition from many academics who asked dismissively, “What is the need for Special Education in Bangladesh? Children with disabilities are few. This is a fancy Western concept; it won’t work in our country.” But Sultana Zaman showed them the thousands of records from the Shishu Bikash Clinic, containing names and cases of countless Bangladeshi children with disabilities, proving the urgent need. She tirelessly convinced the Ministry of Education, the university administration, and various professional organizations. Finally, the department was established. This was one of the first Special Education departments in all of South Asia. It began offering Bachelor’s (B.Ed) and Master’s (M.Ed) degrees. As of 2023, over 500 dedicated teachers have graduated from this department, spreading disability education across all 64 districts of the country. This department remains her greatest, most enduring legacy.

International Conferences and Research Papers (1975-2010)

Throughout her long career, Sultana Zaman presented over 35 key papers at international conferences around the world—in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Her research topics included ‘Community-Based Rehabilitation’, ‘Early Detection of Developmental Disabilities’, ‘Women with Disabilities and Their Rights’, ‘Inclusive Education’, and ‘Parenting Training for Disability’. Her paper ‘Early Detection of Developmental Disabilities in Resource-Poor Settings’ (1990) was widely praised in international psychology journals. Her paper ‘Women with Disabilities in Bangladesh: A Hidden Crisis’ (1995) highlighted the double discrimination faced by women with disabilities. Her paper ‘Developing a Low-Cost Screening Tool for Intellectual Disability’ (1985) was praised by the World Health Organization.

Shelter for Orphaned Children (1971-1972)

During the Liberation War, she established a small shelter called ‘Khela Ghar’ (Play House) in Indian refugee camps at Kalyani, West Bengal, for orphaned children. There, she arranged food, clothing, and basic education. Although this shelter did not last long, her humanitarian spirit remains memorable. In a 2010 interview, she said, “A little girl came to me and asked, ‘Apa, will my parents ever come back?’ I could not give her any answer. That very day, I decided that I would work for helpless children for my entire life.”

Personal Life

Sultana Zaman’s marriage to Kazi Nuruzzaman was a unique example of mutual respect, intellectual companionship, and understanding. In 1978, their son Nadim died prematurely at just 18 years old. This was the biggest, most devastating tragedy of Sultana Zaman’s life. She was inconsolable for months. Seeing his wife’s deep pain, Kazi Nuruzzaman told her firmly yet lovingly, “Our beloved son is gone, and nothing can bring him back. But now, it is your sacred responsibility to save the children of other mothers who are still alive and in need.” This powerful statement inspired her to work even harder for children with disabilities. To preserve Nadim’s precious memory, she established a ‘Nadim Memorial Fund’ within the Special Education department.

Brother Scientist Jamal Nazrul Islam

Sultana Zaman always regarded her younger brother Jamal Nazrul Islam, an internationally renowned physicist, professor at Dhaka University, and National Professor, as a constant source of intellectual inspiration.

Role in Scouting and Women’s Movement

Sultana Zaman was actively involved in Bangladesh’s Girl Scouting movement and various women’s empowerment forums such as ‘Nari Pakkha’ and ‘Bangladesh Mahila Parishad’. She firmly believed that women’s weapon is education, and with it, they can break any social barrier.

Awards and Honours

She received numerous awards: the Henry H. Kessler Award (1996) as the first Bangladeshi woman; the Autism Welfare Foundation Award (2000); IER Award (2003); Agradoot Award (2008); the Begum Rokeya Padak (2008) from the Government of Bangladesh; Professor Emeritus (2008); Ananda Top Ten Award (2008); Rotary International ‘Women for Women’ Award; and the Bangladesh Scouts Honour.

Final Days and Death (2018-2020)

After 2018, her physical condition gradually deteriorated. In March 2020, she became critically ill. On the morning of 22 March 2020, she breathed her last, at 87 years of age. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large Janaza was not possible. She was buried at Banani Graveyard beside her beloved husband. Her final wish—an ‘unostentatious farewell’—was fully honored.

Observance of Death Anniversary and Legacy

Every year on 22 March, her institutions organize prayers and memorial meetings. In 2022, Dhaka University launched a ‘Dr. Sultana Zaman Memorial Lecture Series’ in her name, ensuring her legacy continues.

Controversies and Criticisms

There are no significant controversies in her life. One minor criticism is that she kept personal control over her institutions for a long time, which some saw as administrative centralization. But no one has ever questioned the quality, integrity, or impact of her humanitarian work. She never worked for political or monetary gain.

Message for the Present Generation

The lesson from Sultana Zaman’s life is eternal: Age, gender, and social barriers are never obstacles to achieving one’s goals. Married at 19, mother of three, she earned her PhD at 48. She launched the Special Education department at age 61. She used to say, “Do not look at children with disabilities with pity. Give them opportunities. They can achieve it.”

Unknown Facts and Stories

She sang Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti beautifully. She cooked for her entire family on Friday mornings. She never wore high heels or expensive jewellery. She never learned to drive, always using rickshaws or buses.

Enduring Legacy

She left behind the still-active Shishu Bikash Clinic; Deepshikha School; SUID Bangladesh with its five branches; the Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation; Kalyan School; and the Special Education Department at Dhaka University. She can truly be called the ‘Mother’ of disability education in Bangladesh.

International Involvement and Representation

She served as an advisor to WHO’s South-East Asia region disability prevention committee and was a member of UNESCO’s ‘Inclusive Education for All’ expert panel. Her ‘Community Based Rehabilitation Manual’ was used in Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

Timeline

1932: Born. 1939: Mother’s death. 1943: Admitted to Sakhawat Memorial School. 1948: Passed Matric. 1951: Marriage. 1967: MA in Psychology; joined Dhaka University; established Shishu Bikash Clinic. 1971: Operated ADS; rehabilitated Biranganas. 1972: Established Deepshikha School; began PhD at Emory. 1975: Earned PhD; promoted to Professor. 1977: Established SWID. 1978: Son’s death. 1984: Established BPF and Kalyan School. 1992: Visiting Professor at Manchester University. 1993: Established Special Education department. 1996: Received Kessler Award. 2000: Retired. 2008: Professor Emeritus and Begum Rokeya Padak. 2020: Died, aged 87.

Conclusion

Dr. Sultana Zaman will forever be remembered as an energetic educationist, a humane psychologist, a Birangana of the Liberation War, and a dedicated organizer for children with disabilities. She proved that if one works properly even for the most neglected people in society, unimaginable change is possible. Through her efforts, thousands of children with disabilities now attend school and live with dignity. Special education teachers from her department are working across every district of Bangladesh. She never sought media limelight; she worked silently and effectively.

She taught us that age is not a barrier, gender is not a barrier, and suffering is not a barrier. With only willpower and dedication, anything is truly possible. Her indomitable spirit will remain immortal among Bengalis. Dr. Sultana Zaman lives on in the smile of every child with a disability, in the skill of every special educator, and in the sight of every woman becoming self-reliant. The thriller does not end. The Special Education department she built continues to create new teachers; the Shishu Bikash Clinic sees the light of hope shine every day; persons with disabilities are finding employment through BPF’s initiatives. We will carry forward her legacy and remain forever vocal for the rights of children with disabilities. Dr. Sultana Zaman is immortal.