Include Mitil's heroic role of '71 in textbook

Veteran journalist Kamal Lohani urged the government to include Shirin Banu Mitil's heroic role during the 1971 Liberation War in textbooks.

Mitil in her 20s disguised herself as a man to fight against the Pakistan army.

The demand was made at the commemorative meeting held on her first death anniversary at Pabna Press Club on Monday. 

A non-government organisation 'Assistance for Rehabilitation and Knack (ARK)' organised the programme.

If Mitil's heroic role in 1971 is included in the textbook, the next generation will be able to know about her sacrifice, and it is possible if the government takes initiative in this regard, said Kamal Lohani.

Shirin Banu Mitil, daughter of Selina Banu, MP of Jukta Front in 1954, was a second-year student at Pabna Edward College, and a leader of Chhatra Union in Pabna when the Liberation War began.

As local people were preparing for the war following Bangabandhu's historic speech on March 7, she was figuring out how she could participate in the fight against the occupation forces.

She wore a shirt and pant like Pritilata Waddedar, an anti-colonial revolutionary woman during the British period, and participated in the nine-month war along with the male fighters although most of the freedom fighters during that time could not come to know her identity. Her heroic role was published in international media with her fighting dress during the Liberation War.

Born on September 2 in 1950 in Pabna town, Mitil died of cardiac arrest on July 21 last year.