Rahman was commended by the World's Children's Prize in 2011 for her courageous fight to put an end to acid and petrol violence in Bangladesh.

During the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971), her family had to flee and her father died, leaving her mother to raise six children.

[1] Since childhood Rahman was involved in debate and cultural activities which led her to develop leadership and taught her to ask questions.

[citation needed] Rahman's work led the government to review the Vagrancy Act as well as the juvenile justice system and to enter into a formal agreement that commits the ministry to develop a vigilance team within the vagrant's home.

She started working for the women's rights organization Nari Pokkho and then joined the Acid Survivors Foundation in 1998, which she has been executive director of since 2002.