WAR veteran and recipient of the award for gallantry — ‘Bir Protik’ – Taramon Bibi, at the age of 61, passed away at her home in Rajibpur Upazila early Saturday, the first of December, the same month the country achieved the victory she too had fought for in 1971.
Taramon Bibi had felt the need to do something more for country. She took up arms and fought several battles against the Pakistani forces. In the guise of a mentally challenged woman, she would observe the positions of the Pakistani army in different areas of then Kurigram’s Rowmari Police Station during the Liberation War and passed the information to the freedom fighters for which she worked as a cook in a camp.
Taramon Bibi had been suffering from respiratory problems and diabetes for the last few years. One of the two gallantry award winning women freedom fighters, Taramon was laid to rest in her family graveyard at Kacharipara in Rajibpur with state honour. People from all walks of life expressed deep sorrow at the death of the celebrated freedom fighter.
It is sad that even now many freedom fighters remain in poverty and suffer from lack of treatment for their illnesses. According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the government allocated Tk 240 crore in 2017 as allowances for freedom fighters. And from 2014-2017 the government has spent around Tk 5,316 crore for freedom fighter allowances.
The government currently provides allowance to 180,000 freedom fighters. Prior to an increase in 2014, the allowance was limited to Tk 3,000 per month. The raise increased the allowance to Tk 10,000. Furthermore, families of freedom fighters living in city corporation territories have 125 litres of daily water bill waived. Houses owned by martyred or injured freedom fighters have 1,500 sq ft of holding taxes, double-burner gas oven, and 200 units of electricity bills waived.
But the amounts are meager and insufficient, despite being raised. More must be done to help the freedom fighters–those who risked their everything for the country. Since most are considerably over the age of 65 the government must provide better health care facilities and other allowances to enable them to live in comfort.
