<i>Better late than never</i>

Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen handing over a cheque for Tk one lakh to Tepri Rani, who was tortured by the Pakistan occupation army at a camp at Shialdangi village in Ranishankoil upazila of Thakurgaon district for six months during the Liberation War, at a function at the deputy commissioner's office yesterday. Photo: STAR

A woman who was tortured by Pakistan occupation army for several months during the Liberation War, was honoured at a function at the deputy commissioner's office yesterday.
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen handed her over a cheque for Tk one lakh which was jointly given by Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation and local NGO Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO).
At a discussion on the occasion, the speakers said that Tepri Rani, 58, daughter of Mudiram Barman of Balidara village under Ranishankoil upazila of the district, in 1971 took shelter with her family members at the adjacent Shialdangi village to escape attacks by Pakistan occupation army.
But local collaborators of Pakistan Army took her to a local army camp forcibly where she was tortured for about six months until the forces left the area in the last week of November.
Talking to this correspondent Tepri said that in the last few decades, none came to help or sympathise her or share her pains.
Replying to a query, she said that the sum of money she got would be of big help to her poverty-stricken family.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shahiduzzaman, executive director of ESDO Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman and others were present at the function.