Recognition as freedom fighters brings satisfaction to Sirajganj Birangonas

Sirajganj, 9 Dec- The recent recognition of 13 Birangonas (war heroines) out of 22 as freedom fighters in Sirajganj district has brought smiles to their faces after 43 years of independence.
Now they feel proud, and are happy and excited after getting the recognition in their lifetime.
The lucky Birangonas, who got the recognition as freedom fighters, are: Surjyo Begum, 60; Shamsunnahar, 62; Mahela Begum, 60; Hamida, 65; Joygun, 60; Achhiya Khatun, 65; Hasina, 63; Shreemoti Rajubala, 65; Suraiya Begum, 60; Komola Bewa,70; Rahima Khatun,60; Samina Khatun, 62, and Aymona Bibi, 60. The present government recently has published a gazette giving recognition to 42 Birangonas in the country as freedom fighters. Out of the total recognized freedom fighters, 13 from Sirajganj have got the honor; while nine others out of 22 have been deprived of this credit.
From now on the newly recognized freedom fighters would get all kinds of advantages including freedom fighter allowance like other freedom fighters of the country. However, nine Birangonas including Khodeza Khatun alias Ayesha, 58, Nurzahan Khatun, 60, Jyotsna Begum, 62, Bahaton Khatun, 65, and Rahela Khatun, 61, have been deprived of the evaluation, although Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman himself gave them the credit of Birangona in a grand rally on the Sirajganj Government College ground in 1972 for their sacrifice. "I feel very much proud and I am thankful to Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman's daughter and present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving us such an honor. Though we had been leading extremely miserable life for the last 43 years after the 'Liberation War', now we are very happy and excited as the government has given us recognition as freedom fighters. After getting the recognition, all the regret of sufferings have erased from our memory," said Surjyo Begum, a war heroine of Natun Bhangabari village in Sirajganj.
Kamela Bewa, 70, another war heroine of Bindupara village under  Sirajganj municipality said, earlier people would have hated us saying Birangona, sinner and characterless. None helps us, even many chiefs of our society and villages avoid us following the scandal in 1971. But now, we are not persons of hatred and apathy. We are persons of proud in the country as the government has identified us as freedom fighters as have got the honor like other freedom fighters in the country.
Surjyo Begum broke into tears, while she was narrating the harassment by the anti-liberation war forces during the war in 1971. She said, six Pakistani armies entered their house at Natun Bhangabari village in the town during the war period and raped three persons including herself, her sister, who gave birth to a child one month ago, and sister-in-law by confining them in a room. The culprits had carried out repression on them in front of her elderly mother. The anti-liberation war forces also had beaten her father for trying to prevent them.
Safina Lohani, Director of Uttaran Mahila Sangstha said there were a total of 22 Birangonas in Sirajganj district. Of them, four persons died in the last few years due to their old age. At present, 18 Birangonas have remained alive and are leading miserable life staying at different places. Of them, 13 have got recognition as freedom fighters, while the rest have been deprived of the identities that is very painful.
War heroine (Birangona) Khodeza Khatun alias Ayesha, 58, of Natun Bhangabari village said: She became victim of harassment by the anti-liberation war forces alike Surjyo Begum and others. But she is deprived of the recognition as freedom fighter. She does not know why her name has been struck off the list of freedom fighters!
Expressing happiness for giving recognition as freedom fighters to other Birangonas, she urged the government to enlist the names of all deprived Birangonas as freedom fighters as soon as possible so that they get honor in society before their deaths for their sacrifice during the war.
Nawsher Ali, President of Rajshahi Freedom Fighter Multipurpose Cooperative Association (Muktijoddha Bohumukhi Somobay Samity) said the initiative of the AL-led government to giving recognition to the Birangonas as freedom fighters has made a history for the next generation. He, however, observed that the government should find out real Birangonas by conducting search with the help of concerned department and give them recognition, who have been deprived of their rights.