Iren Perven Badhan
Iren Perven Badhan was a former Deputy Secretary of Bangladesh Civil Service, Bangladeshi diplomat, and a prominent student political leader during the Democratic Movement of 1990. She was born on July 22, 1967 in the Magura district of Bangladesh to M A Hamid Mia and Rizia Khan. Following a long battle with cancer, Badhan died on 24th April, 2016 in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.
Badhan received her primary education in Magura and completed her secondary education from Sammilani High School. A brilliant pupil, Badhan obtained her Secondary School Certificate from Sammilani (SSC) and soon after, enrolled in Eden College in Dhaka. Graduating with a First Class in Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC), Badhan was accepted to the University of Dhaka where she subsequently earned a B.A. Honors degree in Political Science and eventually went on to receive a Master’s degree from the university. Meanwhile, Badhan was selected for a full scholarship by World Health Organization (WHO) for furthering her education in the field of public health. She was sent to Mahidol University, a public research university in Bangkok, Thailand where she earned another Master’s degree in Public Health. Badhan was also a PhD student at the University of Dhaka, however, she could not submit her dissertation due to her illness and untimely death.
A firm believer in the ideals of democracy, Badhan joined Bangladesh Awami League while she was still a young undergraduate in Dhaka University and quickly rose to prominence as a student leader. In 1990, Badhan played a crucial role as a student leader during the democratic movement against then dictator Hussein Ershad. She helped to launch a strong and intensifying student political campaign against Ershad for ushering in democracy in Bangladesh. During the peak of the campaign, she started a demonstration from the Registrar Building of Dhaka University breaking the curfew and inspired a widespread political campaign that spread throughout the capital and all around Bangladesh. The Ershad regime finally fell in the same year of 1990 and following that event, Badhan was elected as Vice President of Shamsun Nahar Residential Hall of Dhaka University with a sweeping victory over other candidates. Along with this prestigious position, she was also elected as Vice President of Dhaka University BCL (Bangladesh Chatra League). Post graduation, Badhan gradually distanced herself from mainstream politics. However, she was involved in numerous social activities for the welfare of society during her time as a student and throughout her life.
After graduating from Dhaka University, Badhan joined Bangladesh Civil Service ( BCS) and was selected to join the 11th batch of the administration cadre of the service. During the time she applied for the position, the BNP led government strongly resisted her selection because of her strong political background with Bangladesh Awami League. Nevertheless, due to her outstanding performance in the BCS exams, they failed to stop her selection and Badhan started her career as a civil servant.
During her period as a civil servant, she served as a magistrate in various districts of Bangladesh and worked in the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Public Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Deputy Secretary. She was widely known to be an efficient and a highly capable officer of the administration cadre.
In 2009, she joined Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore as a Counsellor. She also played the role of Acting High Commission of Bangladesh in Singapore several time. During her period as a diplomat, she worked to promote the image of Bangladesh in Singapore with her dynamic leadership. She established a strong business community in Singapore and undertook several initiatives to strengthen the bond between Bangladesh and Singapore. Her pioneering activities included starting the esteemed Bangladesh Investment Seminar in Singapore and BD Chamber, an organization uniting all Bangladeshi business persons in Singapore, among others.
Badhan had 8 siblings, including 5 sisters and 3 brothers. She was married to the director of Diamond Life Insurance and politician of Bangladesh Awami League Ishaque Ali Khan Panna. The couple have an eight year old son, named Aryan.
Battle with Cancer:
Badhan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and battled with recurrent cases of cancer several times. She received chemotherapy 8 times along with radiotherapy. In spite of her reappearing and difficult battle with cancer, Badhan survived and conquered the enormous battle every time.
She was again diagnosed with Thyroid cancer in 2016 and underwent treatment under the supervision of renowned oncologists Dr. Florence Lim and Dr. Lee Kim Shang. She went back to Bangladesh for a brief rest before she started another course of treatment in full swing. However, her health quickly deteriorated there and she had to admitted to the ICU of United Hospitals Bangladesh. Badhan came back to Singapore by air ambulance on 26 March, 2016 after she was once again posted by the government as Counsellor in Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore. The doctors tried their very best to protect her life but they failed at last and she breathed her last on 24th April, 2016.
Badhan was an eminent figure during the democratic movement of 1990. Her contributions behind the fall of the Ershad regime is undeniable. She had an extraordinary career as a civil servant and gave her best efforts to uphold the interests of her motherland Bangladesh during her long career. Moreover, she actively contributed to social welfare issues and came forward to helping her country, her society and everyone around her in times of need. She was a champion of democracy, human rights and social welfare. Her noteworthy contributions for a modern, democratic Bangladesh shall shine brightly forever. She was a great Cancer Fighter and a Stringth, hope and inspiration for us.
