Sitara Begum, born on September 5, 1946, in Kolkata. She graduated from Dhaka Medical College in March 1969 (Batch K-22) and joined the Pakistan Army in April 1970. A few months after the Liberation War started, she had an arduous journey with her family to safety to reach Melaghar, Tripura, in India. She became the Commanding Officer of the Bangladesh Hospital at Bishramganj, Tripura, to serve the sick and injured Heroic Freedom Fighters. On December 15, 1973, after the Liberation War, Dr. Sitara was awarded Bir Protik (Symbol of Bravery), the fourth highest gallantry award conferred by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Dr. Sitara and Musammat Taramon Begum are the only two female Freedom Fighters formally awarded Bir Protik.