Sitara Begum


Sitara Begum is a Bangladeshi doctor, Army officer, and war hero. She is one of two women in Bangladesh who has received Bir Protik award.

Early life

Begum was born in Koltata, West Bengal, British India in 1946. Her father, Israil Mian, was a lawyer. He graduated from the Holy Cross College, Dhaka. She completed her MBBS from Dhaka Medical College. Her brother was Major Abu Taher Mohammad Haider.

Career

Begum was commission in the Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army in 1970 as a lieutenant. She was stationed in Comilla Cantonment. Her brother was stationed in Comila Cantonment as well. After the start of Bangladesh Liberation war, she and her parents with the aid of Mukti Bahini members moved from Kishorganj to Meghalaya. She then was appointed the commanding officer of Bangladesh Hospital, a Mukti Bahini hospital located inside India that operated during the war. She returned to Dhaka after the independence of Bangladesh.
Begum left Bangladesh after her brother was killed in the 7 November 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état and settled in the United States.