War heroine Ganobala Barmoni of Baraipara village under Gokunda union in Lalmonirhat Sadar has been nominated for Beer Nari Sammanona-2017, thanks to the initiative of 71 Foundation, a Dhaka-based platform of freedom fighters.
Earlier on December 2 last year, The Daily Star published a report on her with the headline “Horrors of '71 still haunt war heroine Ganobala”.
"After reading the touching story of Ganobala Barmoni in the Daily Star, we collected detailed information of her. We will award her Beer Nari Sammanona-2017 at a function to be held at Bangladesh Mahila Samity auditorium in Dhaka on March 31," said Udoy Shawkat Ali, secretary of the organisation.
"We are also trying to get her recognition as a freedom fighter," he said.
"This year 11 war heroines from different areas of the country will be given the honour. Eleven female freedom fighters were given Beer Nari Sammanona last year and eight others were given the same in 2015," said Dr Khaled Shawkat Ali, chairman of the organisation.
The 71 Foundation's message brought a sort of consolation for Ganobala, now 76, but she could hardly smile.
“I forgot how to smile after the tragedy that befell me during the Liberation War,” said Ganobala, who witnessed murder of her husband Dr Shashi Mohan Barmon by the Pakistan occupation army in 1971, before herself undergoing brutal torture at their camp.
Later she started working as a domestic help for living.