Decorated Freedom Fighter Taramon Bibi, Bir Pratik, died at her residence in the Shankar Madhabpur village of the Rajibpur upazila in Kurigram early Saturday at the age of 61.
The war heroine, who had been suffering from respiratory problems, breathed her last around 1:30am, said her son Abu Taher.
Taher said his mother received treatment at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka last month as her condition had deteriorated.
She left behind her husband, one son and a daughter, and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.
Immediately after her demise, people from all walks of life started expressing shocks at the death of decorated freedom fighter Taramon Bibi.
President M Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury expressed shock over Taramon Bibi’s death.
In a message of condolence, Sheikh Hasina prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Juktofront Chairman and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) General Secretary Comrade Khalequzzaman expressed their profound shock at the death of Taramon Bibi.
In separate condolence messages, they recalled the outstanding contribution Taramon Bibi made to the country’s Liberation War in 1971 and said the nation will remember her role in the war forever.
Besides, Jatiya Party Senior Co-Chairman Rowshan Ershad, Co-Chairman GM Quader, Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader and Presidium Member Major (Retd) Md Khaled Akhtar, Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker, also an independent candidate for the upcoming general polls from Kurigram 4 constituency, expressed profound shock at the death of Taramon Bibi.
Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram Sultana Pervin said the Bir Pratik was buried in her family graveyard around 2 pm after a Namaj-e-Janaza on the upazila parishad field after the Zuhr prayers.
“A smart contingent of police gave a guard of honour while bugle played the last post before her Namaj-e-Janaza,” the DC said.
Among others, Gonojagoron Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram Sultana Pervin, Superintendent of Police Mehedul Karim, Rajibpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mehedi Hasan, Chilmari upazila Chairman Shawkat Ali Sarker, Bir Bikram, attended her Namaj-e-Janaza and burial process.
Taramon Bibi was born in the Shankar Madhabpur village of the Kurigram District to Abdus Sobhan and Kulsum Bewa in 1957.
She was hired by the Mukti Bahini as a help cook and clean the camp when she was 16.
She was interested in the war effort and asked Havildar Muhit of the infantry regiment of Sector 11 if she could train.
He trained her on the use of .303 British Rifle and submachine guns. She was attached to Sector 11 under the leadership of Sector commander Abu Taher.
After the war, she was awarded Bir Pratik (Symbol of Valour) by the Bangladesh government in 1973. But her whereabouts were unknown and the award was never handed over to her.
She herself remained unaware of this until 1995 when a researcher from Mymensingh discovered her.
She was finally given her award by the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia on 19 December 1995.
