Dr. Zohora Begum

Dr. Zohra Begum Kazi (October 15, 1912 - November 7, 2007) was a Bangladeshi physician. She was the first Bengali Muslim female doctor of India Contents. Dr. Kazi came from the well-educated and influential Kazi family of Gopalpur in the Madaripur District in what was then Bengal. Her father, [Dr. Kazi Abdus Sattar] was also a physician and a politician. Dr. Zohra Kazi obtained her MBBS degree in 1935 from Lady Hardinge Medical College for Women in Delhi. She ranked First Class First and was awarded the Viceroy of India's Medal (Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, PC (12 September 1866 – 12 August 1941). Dr. Kazi completed her FCPS degree and received a scholarship from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London and obtained DRCOG degree. She continued her studies in London and obtained FRCOG and MRCOG degrees. Upon her return to East Bengal (then renamed East Pakistan), she joined Dhaka (Dacca) Medical College and Hospital as professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. During her long career, Dr. Kazi held several key positions in Medicine. Dr. Kazi was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in February 2008 for her notable social work. During her lifetime, she also received several other distinctions and acknowledgements for her contributions, both medical and philanthropic, to society. On February 21, 1952, Dr. Zohra Kazi is said to have organized emergency treatment for the wounded students of the Bengali Language Movement. During The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, she sought out and provided medical attention to the wounded Freedom Fighters. Throughout her life, she took an active interest in the well being of all her patients and the children she delivered. Dr. Zohra Kazi died in November 7, 2007 at the age of 95.