Birangana Roma Chowdhury’s 7th death anniversary today

Birangana Roma Chowdhury, a revered Liberation War freedom fighter and writer, passed away on September 3, 2018 at Chattogram Medical College Hospital at the age of 77. The seventh anniversary of her death is being observed today.

Born on October 14, 1941, in Popadia village of Boalkhali upazila, Chattogram, Roma Chowdhury was the first woman from South Chattogram to earn a postgraduate degree in Bangla literature from Dhaka University in 1961 . She began her teaching career as the head of Cox’s Bazar High School in 1962 and later served in various schools for 16 years.

On the morning of May 13, 1971, during the Liberation War, Roma Chowdhury was subjected to brutal torture by Pakistani military forces and their local collaborators at her home in Popadia. After the assault, she jumped into a pond to escape and witnessed her house being set ablaze . For the next eight months, she lived in hiding with her elderly mother and two children, enduring immense hardship.

Roma Chowdhury authored 19 books, including 'Ekattorer Janani', 'Ek Hazar Ek Din Japoner Padya', and 'Bhab-Boichitre Rabindranath' . Despite facing personal tragedies, including the loss of her sons during the war, she continued to write and teach, dedicating her life to preserving the history of the Liberation War.

In 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina honoured Roma Chowdhury at Ganabhaban, acknowledging her sacrifices and contributions to the nation.

Roma Chowdhury was laid to rest with state honours at her ancestral home in Popadia, in accordance with her last wishes.