In 1971, the citizens of this nation, regardless of gender, united to advocate for the country’s rights. They managed to liberate the nation. Our freedom was taken away from us. Many women and men fought for independence through various means, including participating in armed conflicts to liberate their homeland, despite the risks, showcasing their significant contributions.
Pakistanis were blamed for the deaths of around 300,000 individuals. Two hundred thousand women were subjected to torture. Amidst the chaos of that time, it’s astonishing to think about how individuals of all ages and backgrounds in Bangladesh tragically lost their lives due to injuries.
Several of the women who have experienced abuse are unable to read or write. Some individuals possessed MBBS, SSC, and MA degrees. These are the people who have earned the title of hero. Several lack details about their educational qualifications. During the liberation war, some women took on roles such as nurses, social workers, housekeepers, and service workers, while most remained homemakers.
In Bangladesh, one or two women were involved in armed conflict. Several of them were employed in hospitals in India that were set up for individuals injured in conflict. Inviting academics and political leaders from other countries to India is a contentious initiative that various people pursue. Each of these women is a warrior for freedom.
The magnitude of the nation’s liberation war is immeasurable. Many women who played crucial roles in the liberation war remain unrecognised. The leaders of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, under the guidance of poet Sufia Kamal, were highly involved throughout the nation. They motivated and coordinated a significant group of individuals to participate in the liberation war through various activities. Mumaj Begum, Kazi Rokeya Sultana, Bebi Maudud, Rani Khan, Rokeya Kabir, Monira Akhtar, and others taught physical fitness, march-past, weapon handling, first aid, trenching, and self-defence techniques in the neighbourhood, along with forming women Janmu. Badrunnessa Ahmed was the president of the rehabilitation activities and women’s organisation Mujibnagar in 1971.
Begum Nurjahan Khurshid excelled in various sectors, starting with inspection and exchange of reports, and later took on the responsibilities of a diplomat. Sajeda Chowdhury was known for inspiring people through his speeches.
Simultaneously, they were experiencing a lack of certain things! Pritirani Das Purkayastha assumed leadership of the Women’s Liberation Army during the Great War of Liberation in 1971. The women’s committee made a significant impact during the Great Liberation War.
In addition to Pritirani Das Purkayastha, the committee includes Gitarani Nath, Nivedita Das, Sudharani Kar Manjudevi, Sushma Das, and Rama Rani Das. Women worked in various sub-units to facilitate their work, including training, midwifery, first aid, cottage industry, printing, and the Ramakrishna Mission. Kanan Devi, Upasana Roy, Sudharani Kar, Poornima Rani Das, and Nipa Rani Majumder are crucial in providing training services.
Pritirani Das Purkayastha, Sukla Rani Dey, Hemlata Dev, and numerous others have substantially impacted primary care. Nazia Osman Chowdhury had a distinctive impact on the Kushtia battlefield. Selina Banu played a crucial role in boosting the fighters’ morale by engaging with refugees and fostering a liberated war spirit. Notable figures in these works include Begum Mustari Safi, Matia Chowdhury, Maleka Begum, Ayesha Khanam, and Reena Khan.
Begum Nurjahan Khurshid excelled in multiple sectors, starting with inspection and report exchange, and later transitioned to diplomatic duties. Sajeda Chowdhury was known for inspiring people through his speeches. They were simultaneously being denied certain things! In 1971, Pritirani Das Purkayastha assumed leadership of the Women’s Liberation Army during the Great War of Liberation.
The women’s committee made a significant impact during the liberation war. In addition to Pritirani Das Purkayastha, the committee includes Gitarani Nath, Nivedita Das, Sudharani Kar Manjudevi, Sushma Das, and Rama Rani Das. Women were organised into sub-units for various tasks, including training, midwifery, first aid, cottage industry, printing, and the Ramakrishna Mission. Kanan Devi, Upasana Roy, Sudharani Kar, Poornima Rani Das, and Nipa Rani Majumder contribute to training services.
Pritirani Das Purkayastha, Sukla Rani Dey, Hemlata Dev, and numerous others have substantially impacted primary care. Nazia Osman Chowdhury made a distinct impact on the Kushtia battlefield. Selina Banu played a crucial role in inspiring the refugees with the spirit of the liberation war and boosting the fighters’ morale by being physically present. Begum Mustari Safi, Matia Chowdhury, Maleka Begum, Ayesha Khanam, and Reena Khan are prominent figures in these works.
Since March 1971, women, particularly female students, have naturally joined the struggle councils established in various regions of the country. Women who desired to join the liberation war underwent training in different camps.
Two of the most prominent training camps were the Gobra and Lembuchra camps. In addition, the training provided to the Women’s Coordinating Council, Major Ziauddin’s force, and Major Jalil’s women’s force is especially remarkable.
In the liberation war, the courageous women of Bangladesh who participated in the armed struggle, Dr. Setara Begum and Tara Banu Bibi (Taramon Bibi), were honoured with the title of Birpratik by the Government of Bangladesh. Several women made significant contributions during the war, including camp workers such as Benilal Dasgupta, Shovarani Mal, Kankan Bibi, Shirin Banu, Beethika Biswas, Minara Begum Jhunu, Gitshree Chowdhury, Aleya Begum, Ferdous Ara Begum, Ashalata Vaidya, Roshan Ara Begum, Jinnat Ara, Karuna Begum, and Meherunnessa Meera.
Women who fought for freedom during the liberation war were involved in collecting and supplying weapons and exchanging information, particularly on behalf of Mukti Bahini. Several women tragically lost their loved ones while gathering and delivering weapons for the freedom fighters. Notable figures in this context include Begum Mustari Shafi, Mrs. Mina Biswas, Jahanara Imam, and Begum Sufia Kamal.
In rural Bengal, mothers played a crucial role in supporting the freedom fighters during the war by encouraging their sons to join the cause, showing interest, providing food and shelter, and collecting valuable information. Women on certain battlefields crafted hand grenades and provided them to the freedom fighters.
Freedom fighters occasionally enlisted the assistance of female members to gather information about enemy positions and terrain. In Bikheri, salesmen and women in different outfits would approach enemy positions to gather information and relay it to the freedom fighters. In addition, women freedom fighters played vital roles during the liberation war as organisers, consultants, cultural motivators, diplomatic figures, and trainers.
The significant impact of cultural groups in 1971 on inspiring the freedom fighters to enhance their morale was noteworthy. The factions visited various areas of Kolkata and raised funds for the freedom fighters. Once more, numerous groups of freedom fighters boosted their spirits by journeying to liberated territories under occupation. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the most prominent in the cultural promotion.
Many female members were actively engaged in the project. Women from Bengal participated on the battlefield, discussions were held on the role of mothers in the liberation struggle, and women’s voices were heard in patriotic songs. The organisation’ Mukti Sangamri Shilpi Sanstha’ inspired freedom fighters by visiting the accessible areas of Bangladesh. A large portion of the organisation’s members were women. ‘Muktir Gan’ was eventually adapted into a film depicting the group’s actions.
In 1971, women bravely gave their lives to assist injured soldiers. The Mujibnagar government established a nursing training centre to cater to the requirements of the liberation war. In the initial two batches, 32 Bengali women were trained here. They are deployed to work in different hospitals and battlefields.
In addition, numerous educated students voluntarily joined various camps to assist the freedom fighters after receiving brief training. 1 The Bangladesh Government Hospital was founded in Sector 2. Many women nurses in this hospital tirelessly serve the freedom fighters around the clock. The Agartala Awami League Volunteer Force Eastern Branch was founded to participate in service activities.
Furthermore, women were deployed to different hospitals and refugee camps. The liberation of the dream was hastened as the women’s society of Bengal broke free from their traditional roles and bravely fought alongside the Pak army during the great liberation war, risking their lives.