Freedom fighter Noorjahan Kakon Bibi being taken home to Sunamganj for burial

The body of Bir Pratik Noorjahan Kakon Bibi is being taken to her ancestral home in Jirargaon village in the northeastern district of Sunamganj.

Kakon Bibi, a centenarian freedom fighter, breathed her last on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet.

An ambulance of the hospital carrying her body has set off for Sunamganj, said Director of the hospital Brig Gen AKM Mahbubul Haque.

The hospital authority and local freedom fighters have paid their last respects to her before that.

Sakhina Bibi, daughter of Kakon Bibi, said people from all walks of life will pay their respects to her once her body reaches home.

She will be buried in the family graveyard after a namaz-e-janaza at 4pm.

Kakon Bibi was admitted to MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital after she fell ill with pneumonia and breathing problems. She was also admitted to hospital in July last year as she suffered from cardiac ailments.

Kakon Bibi was held in captivity and tortured by the Pakistani occupation forces after she left home for war in 1971. She also trained in operating firearms 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. The injury marks are still visible on her knee.

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

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