Pritilata Waddedar

Pritilata Waddedar (1911-1932) was the first Bengali revolutionary nationalist and first Bengali woman who fought against the division of Bengal. Her bravery and sacrifice for the nation's liberty was a source of great inspiration for the later movements in Bangladesh. On her 103rd birth anniversary we remember the sacrifice of this valiant freedom fighter.

Pritilata was born to a middle-class family on May 5 1911 in Dhalghat village in Patiya upazila of Chittagong    
Pritilata completed her schooling from Dr Khastagir Government Girls' School of Chittagong
She got admitted to Eden college of Dhaka for higher secondary education
Pritilata completed her graduation from Bethune College in Philosophy with distinction

After completing her education in Calcutta, Pritilata returned to Chittagong and started her career as a school teacher
Pritilata decided to join the Indian freedom movement
On 13 June 1932, Pritilata met Surya Sen and Nirmal Sen in their camp
Along with the revolutionary group of Surya Sen, Pritilata took part in many raids
In the Jalalabad battle, she took the responsibility of supplying explosives to the revolutionaries

In 1932, Surya Sen planned to attack the Pahartali European Club which had a signboard that read "Dogs and Indians not allowed”
Pritilata was told to lead the attack
Dressing herself as a Punjabi male, Pritilata with her team attacked the club on September 23  at 10:45 pm
Injured and trapped by the British police, Pritilata swallowed cyanide and committed suicide to avoid arrest

Bangladeshi writer Selina Hossain calls Pritilata an ideal for every woman
A trust named Birkannya Pritilata Trust has been founded in her memory
A dormitory of Jahangirnagar University called Pritilata hall has been named after Pritilata Waddedar

European Club, now a government office.