Advocate Sultana Kamaladvocate-sultana-kamal

Chairperson
Board of Trustees (BoT)
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)

Former Executive Director
Ain o Salish Kendra

and Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

Educational Qualification

(1981) Masters (Development Studies, specialising in Women and Development)
Institute of Social Studies (ISS), The Hague, The Netherlands.

(1978) Bachelor of Law, University of Dhaka

(1971) M.A. (English Literature), University of Dhaka

She was honored with CNCs Special Commendation for taking part in the liberation war, in 1971. In 1995, she received Ananya Top Ten Award and the John Humphrey Freedom Award of Canada in 1996 for her involvement in the human rights and women’s rights activities.

Major Professional Involvement

Starting her career as a teacher, Advocate Sultana Kamal worked with Bangladesh Tobacco Company in the legal department. Then she worked as a Programme Planner and Coordinator for Women’s Programme, International Voluntary Services, USA in Bangladesh (1976-1980). She also worked as a Legal Consultant with UNHCR, Hong Kong (1989-90).

Sultana Kamal has authored many books on womens legal rights and human rights including Manobir Nishanka Mon; Manobadhikar, Rashtra O Samaj; Chilam Kothay Jeno Nilimar Niche, a compilation of articles written by her over the last twenty five years.

Others Professional Involvement

Sultana Kamal is the Chairperson of the We Can End Violence Alliance and a Co-chair of the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission. She is also a National Council Member of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; Board Member, Nijera Kori; Trustee, Freedom Foundation; Treasurer, TIB Board of Trustees; Trustee, Protichi Bangladesh (founded by Dr Amartya Sen); Founder Member, Sammilita Nari Samaj; Core Group Member, Women Living Under Muslim Laws, International Solidarity Network, France; and Steering Committee Member, Asia Pacific Women Law and Development (APWLD), Regional Network among many others.

Sultana Kamal was active in Kachi Kanchar Mela, Sangskriti Sangsad, Struggles for Cultural Autonomy and the 1969’s mass upheavals. In 1971, during the war of liberation, she joined the freedom fighters and she was one of the founders of the Bangladesh Field Hospital in Agartala for the freedom fighters. Sultana was a founder member of the famous drama group “Nagorik Natya Samproday” and has acted in leading roles in its earlier productions.