Eminent writer and Shaheedjaya (wife of a Liberation War martyr) Begum Mushtari Shafi, who also worked as a Shobdo Sainik at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War, passed away in Dhaka yesterday.

She was 84.

Begum Mushtari died at the Intensive Care Unit of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka around 5:10pm, confirmed her son Mehraj Tahsin Shafi.

She was suffering from different health issues, including kidney, urine and blood infection as well as respiratory complications. She was brought to Dhaka Specialised Hospital from Chattogram on December 2 and then shifted to CMH on December 14, said Tahsin.

He added that his mother was put on life support yesterday morning but she suffered a cardiac arrest around 4:45pm and doctors declared her dead at 5:10pm.

Her body would be taken at Dhaka Central Shaheed Minar this morning, after which a namaz-e-janaza would be held at the Dhaka University Central Mosque.

She would be brought to Chattogram on Wednesday and kept at the Shaheed Minar there. She will later be buried in the port city.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed deep shock at the death of Begum Mushtari Shafi, reported UNB. 

In a condolence message, she recalled with gratitude the role of Mushtari Shafi, a valiant freedom fighter, in the progressive cultural and citizen movements.  She prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy for her bereaved family members.

Mushtrai Shafi was honoured with the Bangla Academy Fellowship in 2016 for her role in the Liberation War. She was also awarded the Begum Rokeya Padak in 2020.

She, her husband late physician Dr Mohammad Shafi, and Shobdo Sainik Mohammad played important roles in the formation of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro in Chattogram.

The couple gave shelter to many freedom fighters at their Enayet Bazar residence in the port city.

On April 7, 1971, her husband and brother Ehsanul Hoque Ansari were picked up by local Razakars and later killed.

Born on January 15, 1938, Mushtari Shafi played an active role in the progressive citizen's and women's rights movements.