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Sitara Begum

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Sitara Begum
Begum in 2009
Personal details
Born (1946-09-05) 5 September 1946 (age 78)
Mymensingh District, Bengal Province, British India (present-day Kishoreganj District, Bangladesh)
CitizenshipBritish subject (1946–1947)
Pakistan (1947–1971)
Bangladesh (1971–present)
RelationsAbu Taher Mohammad Haider (brother)
Residence(s)Michigan, United States
Awards Bir Pratik
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan (1970–1971)
 Bangladesh (1971–1973)
Branch/service
Years of service1970–1973
Rank Captain
UnitPakistan Army Medical Corps
Battles/wars

Dr. Captain Sitara Begum is a Bangladeshi doctor, Army officer, and War hero. She is one of two women in Bangladesh who has received Bir Protik award. She played a magnificent role in Sector 2 during Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.[1][2]

Early life

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Begum was born in Kishoreganj in 1946.[3] Her father, Israil Mian, was a lawyer. She graduated from the Holy Cross College, Dhaka. She completed her MBBS from Dhaka Medical College. Her brother was Major Abu Taher Mohammad Haider.[2]

Career

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Begum was commissioned in the Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army in 1970 as a lieutenant. She was stationed in Comilla Cantonment. Her brother was stationed in Comila Cantonment as well. After the start of Bangladesh Liberation war, she and her parents with the aid of Mukti Bahini members moved from Kishorganj to Meghalaya. She then was appointed the commanding officer of Bangladesh Hospital, a Mukti Bahini hospital located inside India that operated during the war. She returned to Dhaka after the independence of Bangladesh.[2][4]

Begum left Bangladesh after her brother was killed in the 7 November 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état and settled in the United States.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Debnath, Bipul K. "Tales of Liberation War". theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Amin, Aasha Mehreen; Ahmed, Lavina Ambreen; Ahsan, Shamim (16 December 2016). "The women in our Liberation War". The Daily Star. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Sitara's Story". Sitara's Story. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ "The Forgotten Cogs of the Liberation War Wheel: Women". Ice Today. Retrieved 22 March 2020.