A Journey of Strength, Justice, and Purpose

Before her life was upended, Rumana Monzur was an esteemed lecturer in International Relations at the University of Dhaka—teaching political theory, mentoring ambitious students, and pursuing advanced studies with boundless promise.

Her scholarship and devotion to global governance reflected an unshakeable belief that education and critical inquiry could dismantle inequity. When she journeyed to Canada on a scholarship to attend the University of British Columbia, her academic path was bright with possibility.

In June 2011, while visiting her home in Dhaka, Rumana was brutally attacked by her husband in front of their young daughter. He gouged her eyes, leaving her permanently blind—a horrifying act that sent shockwaves through Bangladesh and beyond.

The attack was not just an act of personal violence—it became a national moment of reckoning. Rather than succumbing to societal pressure to remain silent, Rumana spoke candidly from her hospital bed, sparking nationwide street protests and prompting international scrutiny of domestic abuse.

Despite the immense physical and psychological trauma, Rumana refused to let the attack define her future. Instead of retreating, she made a courageous decision: to return to Canada, rebuild her life from zero, and prove that her future was still hers to author.

Surrounded by a steadfast community of mentors, advocates, and friends in Vancouver, she learned to navigate blindness through assistive screen-reading technologies and sheer grit. While raising her young daughter as a single mother, she completed her Master's degree and conquered UBC's Peter A. Allard School of Law, graduating in 2017.

Seven years after the attack, Rumana was officially called to the bar in British Columbia on December 7, 2018. Standing before the Supreme Court in ceremonial robes alongside her daughter and mentors, she marked a historic victory of resilience over tragedy.

Today, Rumana serves as Counsel at the Department of Justice Canada in Vancouver, championing human rights, Indigenous law, and protection for vulnerable communities. As an international keynote speaker, subject of Denise Chong's acclaimed book Out of Darkness, and protagonist of the documentary Untying the Knot, she empowers audiences worldwide with her message of courage and hope.