Bir Pratik Taramon Bibi dies at 62

Bir Pratik Taramon Bibi, known for her courageous role in the 1971 Liberation War, has died at the age of 62 in Kurigram, her family says.

The Bir Pratik will be laid to rest with state honours at the Kacharipara Taltala graveyard on Saturday afternoon, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Sultana Parveen said.

Officials from the local government, social and cultural groups, professionals and political organisations would pay their final respects to the freedom fighter before the ceremony.

Apart from being an aide to the freedom fighters and spying on the Pakistani forces, Taramon took part in battles. She had fought the war under Sector-11 led by Col Abu Taher.

A freedom fighter named Muhib Mabildar brought Taramon Bibi to the freedom fighters’ camp to help with cooking. There she learned how to fire a gun.

During lunch one afternoon a Pakistani gun boat attacked the camp. Taramon Bibi fought back alongside the other freedom fighters and managed to defeat the enemy. She went on to face several other battles alongside during the course of the war.

In 1973, Bangladesh awarded her with the ‘Bir Pratik’ award for her gallantry during the war.

But, her whereabouts were unknown until she was traced in 1995. On Dec 19 of the same year, the honour was conferred on her.

Taramon Bibi was married to Abdul Majid. The two had a son and a daughter.