'I was overwhelmed with the thought that my child would be born in a free country'

I was pregnant with my firstborn during the Liberation War. It was a very difficult time for me and my family. I didn't know if my child would be born in a free country.

On the morning of 16 December, my father gave us the good news that Bangladesh had become a free country.

I couldn't hold my tears. My heart got filled with joy and I was extremely overwhelmed with the thought that my child would be born in a free, independent country.

Four months after Victory Day, my daughter was born in an independent Bangladesh. I don't have words to describe that feeling.

Our ancestral house was in Dhaka's New Market area. On the night of 25 March, we spent the night at the women's hostel for the students of Dhaka University's social welfare department since it was next to our house.

My maternal grandmother had sent a message to our house to leave Dhaka as soon as possible. I with my parents, husband and my siblings somehow managed to reach our village in Narayanganj. The journey was hellish and since I was pregnant, it was more difficult for me.

However, my family and I somehow reached our village and spent nine months there. Throughout the war, we spent every day in fear and uncertainty.

During our stay at the village, the Pakistani military captured my father since he was helping the local freedom fighters. But due to lack of evidence, they let him go.

Farida Begum, Housewife