Remembering Bangladeshi activist Sigma Huda, a passionate fighter for a fairer world

By Mandira Nayar / Sapan News

The passing of Sigma Huda leaves a huge void in the hearts of civil activists in South Asia as much as in her country Bangladesh. The government clampdown on widespread protests by students related to job reservations has led to 114 deaths. Sigma’s voice in such a situation would count.

A prominent lawyer and human-rights advocate, Sigma passed away in Dhaka on July 17, succumbing to long-standing health conditions. She was 79.

A lawyer and a champion of women’s rights, she was a member of Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan) bringing together activists, journalists, medical professionals and students across the region and diaspora.

Those of us who knew her, and also those who didn’t, deeply mourn her passing.

Born Sigma Kabir, she held a law degree from the University of Peshawar before 1971, and became an advocate of the Supreme Court of the newly independent country of Bangladesh in 1972.

She was passionate, articulate and had spent her life fighting for a fairer world.

Her husband Nazmul Huda, also a prominent lawyer active in politics – he had held positions like minister of information with the government of Bangladesh – passed away in February 2023.

In 2004, Sigma was appointed the first UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. She founded several NGOs, including the Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association and Acid Survivors Foundation. She was a member of the National Council for Women in Development and held significant positions in the Bangladesh Bar Council.

In 2007, she was awarded Pope John Paul II Wellspring of Freedom Award for dedicating her life to upholding human rights and combating injustice.

She was one of the speakers at Sapan’s webinar on ‘Combat the Trafficking of Women in Southasia’, to mark UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons a year ago, in July 2023.

While noting that the SAARC countries signed the Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution in 2002, she had said that implementation was extremely disappointing.

“Women and children continue to fall prey to international prostitution networks. Since most countries are both sources, transits and destinations, there has to be greater cooperation among the countries in the region,” she asserted.

The sister of feminist activist Khushi Kabir, a fierce and fiery founding member of Sapan, Sigma will be deeply missed.

Mandira Nayar is a journalist with over two decades of experience across South Asia, and was until recently deputy chief of bureau at The Week based in Delhi. A Charles Wallace scholar, she has been the chronicler of tiny details and people who are footnotes in history. She has worked for The Hindu and The Telegraph and is a founding member of the Southasia Peace Action Network (Sapan).