Syeda Sakina Islam

Islam was born on 7 October 1928 in Kolkata. She belonged to a Bengali Muslim family of Syeds originally from the village of Talibpur in Murshidabad. Her father, Syed Badrudduja, was a former mayor of Kolkata and a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly and India's Lok Sabha, and her mother was Zaynab Begum. Through her paternal grandfather Syed Abdul Ghafur, her ancestors descended from Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam.[1] She had 10 siblings, including politician Syeda Razia Faiz. Islam is a graduate of Lady Brabourne College.

Islam served as a member of parliament twice. In 1979, she was elected from Barisal and Bhola District. In 1986, she was elected from Barishal, Jhalkathi District and Pirojpur District. Islam served as vice chairman of Jatiya Party's central ladies group and Chairperson of Bangladesh Jatiyo Mohila Songstha (Bairsal District). Islam was the first female member of the speaker panel of Bangladesh Parliament, Jatiya Sangsad.[2]

In 1977, as a commissioner of Barisal Pourosova, she attended the Asian Women Conference. She also attended World Women Development Conference in 1978. She accompanied President Ziaur Rahman at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1979 held in Lusaka, Zambia.

Islam was married to the journalist and playwright Fakhrul Islam Khan. The couple has one son, Amirul Islam Khan Bulbul, and two daughters, Shabnam Wadud Kaya and Saguafa Khanam Joardar.[3]