Maleka Khan (Bengali: মালেকা খান; born c. 1943) is a Bangladeshi social worker and activist for the rights of the Birangana, women raped during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
[1][2][3][4][5][6] In 1971, a revolution and armed conflict emerged in East Pakistan, sparked by the rise of Bengali nationalism and a subsequent self-determination movement.
Khan located one such bunker at the Nakhal Para MP Hostel near Jahangir Gate, and rescued the women, providing them with clothing and taking them to government-run safe houses.
[2][19] Khan publicly called on the Bangladeshi government to permit abortions for Biranganas pregnant as a result of rape, as well as to legalise adoption for babies born as a result; she criticised the lack of support given to Biranganas by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, particularly after he said publicly that "we do not want Pakistani blood" in reference to babies fathered by Pakistani soldiers.
[19] Khan publicly praised the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina in 2015 when her government approved a proposal to upgrade the status of Biranganas to Mukti Bahini.