Dhaka, Dec. 9 -- Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh has yet to see a figure match the stature of Begum Rokeya, the trailblazing champion of women's rights in Bengal, even as nearly a century has passed since her death.

Speaking at the Rokeya Day programme on Tuesday, he said: "We have not been able to create another Rokeya even after 100 years. This is our misfortune. We have not been able to implement the directions she gave, the dreams she showed. We have talked about them, but we have not moved forward."

He said the event was not only to honour her memory but also to confront the nation's shortcomings.

"Why have we failed? Why haven't more Begum Rokeyas developed among us in these 100 years? Who would show us the way, ...