13 May, 2026- Thakurgaon:- Birangana Tepri Rani was laid to rest with state honours on Wednesday at the cremation ground in Baliadanga village under Ranisankail Upazila.
Tepri Rani died on Tuesday night at the age of 71 while undergoing treatment at Pirganj Upazila Health Complex due to age-related complications. She is survived by her only son.
Before the funeral, Khadija Begum and Inspector (Investigation) Rafiqul Islam, along with a contingent of police personnel, paid tribute to her through a state guard of honour.
Born into a modest rural family, Tepri Rani had only recently begun her married life when the 1971 Liberation War broke out. In May of that year, tragedy struck after she was allegedly abducted from a shelter in the neighbouring village of Shialdangi and handed over to a camp run by the Pakistani occupation forces in Ranisankail.
According to local residents and family members, she was detained and tortured at the camp for nearly six months, until Pakistani forces withdrew from the area in the final week of November 1971.
Although the country achieved independence, Tepri Rani continued to endure years of social stigma and isolation. Her husband reportedly refused to accept her after the war, while many in society marginalized her because of the atrocities she had suffered during the conflict.
Despite the hardship, she raised her son with courage and dignity, enduring ridicule and discrimination throughout her life.
For decades, her sacrifice and suffering remained largely unrecognized. In 2017, the government officially honoured her with the title of “Birangana,” a recognition given to women who were subjected to torture and violence during the Liberation War.
Later, in 2020, The Daily Star honoured Tepri Rani in recognition of her lifelong struggle against social stigma, humiliation, and discrimination.
