The Birangona: A Forgotten Legacy
TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE
Credit: Nabil Uddin Ahmed/Rex
Background
There was mass rape during the Bangladesh Liberation war with an estimated 200,000-400,000 women were raped by Pakistan Army and their collaborators. On December 22, 1971, the Government of Bangladesh declared these women as Birangona, or war-heroine. Yet they were shunned and looked down upon by society as dishonored women.
Resources To Learn More
By: Nilima Ibrahim
An English translation of one of the seven narratives about first-hand accounts of Birangona from within the camps.
By: Nayanika Mookherjee and Najmun Nahar Keya
A graphic novel and animation film that follows Labonny and the ethical guidelines that arise when recording her family's history for a school project.
By: Ekattor TV
A film that interviews Birangona and provides background on their role within the Bangladesh Liberation War.
By: Leesa Gazi
An award-winning documentary about "the strength of women who have picked themselves up after facing unspeakably brutal physical and emotional abuse."
By: Nayanika Mookherjee
A critical evaluation of the ethics surrounding media representation and consumption of the birangona.
By: Tarfia Faizullah
A collection of poems that explore the experiences of personal loss interwoven with the female victims that have lived through the Liberation War of 1971.
By: Mashruk Ahmed
A series of black and white photographs that document the true realities of the war and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the birangona.
This list is ever-growing and will be updated if any more resources are requested to be added.