Bangladesh Liberation War hero Bir Pratik Kakon Bibi dies

Bir Pratik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi, who fought the Pakistani forces during Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971, has died.

The freedom fighter, said to be over 100 years old, died at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital around 11:15pm on Wednesday, Brig Gen AKM Mahbubul Haque, a director of the hospital, told bdnews24.com.

She was hospitalised on Monday with breathing problems.

Insan Ali, a nephew of Kakon, said she was born in 1915.

Abu Sufian, a former deputy commander of Sunamaganj district Muktijoddha Command Council, said Kakon was born at Netrai Khasia Palli in the Indian state of Meghalaya.

Her husband Sayeed Ali has also died. The family live in Jirargaon village of Doarabazar in Sunamganj.

Kakon Bibi underwent treatment at the hospital in July last year after she had suffered a minor heart attack.

She left home for war in 1971 but was held and tortured by the Pakistani occupation forces. She, later, took training on operating arms and joined freedom fighter Rahmat Ali.

She also worked as a secret agent for the Muktibahini (the guerrilla resistance movement formed by the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary and civilians during the War of Liberation).

Kakon Bibi took bullets while fighting at Tengratila in Sylhet in November. The injury marks are still visible on her knee.

She fearlessly fought the war at multiple locations across the northeastern district.

Bangladesh government honoured her with Bir Pratik, the fourth highest gallantry award in Bangladesh, in 1996.