The Hague, 26 March 2022:
The celebrated Pakistani diplomat and writer Mr Husain Haqqani at an international conference at the Leiden university in the Netherlands said yesterday that after the increasing international recognition of the Armenian genocide, almost a hundred years after the genocide had been committed, a lot of people in his country of birth Pakistan, have tried very hard to try and see if they can either minimize or deny what happened in 1971 in Bangladesh. “What happened in Bangladesh is a crime”, said Mr Haqqani adding, “the atrocities that took place in 1971 in what is now Bangladesh needs not only acknowledgment but also a collective apology by the state and government of Pakistan so that this chapter at least if cannot be closed, but can be brought to some kind of closure”.
Other speakers at the conference reiterated the demand for international recognition of 1971 genocide in Bangladesh committed by Pakistan. They said, it is of great importance and an absolute necessity to honour the victims of Genocide and their descendants through recognition. To achieve the goal of peace and justice after committing such crimes, it should have been widely acknowledged at the time. Bangladesh is still waiting for an apology and has been looking to other countries to recognise what happened in 1971.
They were speaking at the conference titled ‘Bangladesh: Justice after genocide’ at the Hague faculty of Leiden University. The conference which is a follow-up of the last event on ‘International Recognition of Bangladesh Genocide in 1971’ was organized by the Europe based Bangladeshi diaspora organization European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) in collaboration with the Leiden University UNICEF Student Team the Hague & SESA (Southeast and South Asian) Club by CIROS (Community of International Relations and Organisations Students).
A total of around 72 participants, mostly university students from different universities in the Netherlands joined the conference and took part in the discussion during the two Q&A sessions. The conference was addressed by the visiting former Pakistani ambassador to the USA and currently Director, South and Central Asia, Hudson Institute, Washington, Dr. Wolfgang-Peter Zingel, South Asia Institute (SAI), University of Heidelberg, Germany Ms. Mahjabeen Khaled, former Member of the Bangladesh Parliament, Dr. Tommaso Virgili, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Berlin, Germany and Mr Chris Blackburn, Communications Director, Swiss Inter Strategy Group; 'Friend of Bangladesh' Award Recipient, London. Mr. Rohan Sharman of Leiden University International Studies & Head, Southeast & South Asia Club gave the welcome address and Bikash Chowdhury Barua, President of EBF chaired the sessions. Ms. Manju von Rospatt of Leiden University College: Liberal Arts and Sciences & General Volunteer Coordinator and Board Member of the UNICEF Student Team and Ms. Mai Li Julienne of Nijmegen University conducted the two Question & Answer Session. Ms. Mahjabeen Khaled and Mr Chris Blackburn took part in the conference through zoom. A 10-minute Documentary film titled; ‘War Crimes 1971’ was also on the day. The conference was live telecast by the London-based British Bangla News.
Speaking on the day Dr. Wolfgang-Peter Zingel who is also an expert on Bangladesh said, ‘initiatives like this conference are needed to keep up the memory. So, what else could be done, he questioned saying, a first step would be that historians and other researchers from Bangladesh and Pakistan and/or representatives of the civil society meet personally on neutral ground and together examine historical evidence. This, he continued, will be not easy, but easier now, after none of the major actors are still alive.
In her speech former Member of the Bangladesh Parliament Ms. Mahjabeen Khaled shared her personal story saying, ‘that topic is very personal to me and my family’ and ‘The war of liberation defines me and what I am today’. She further states, ‘1971 liberation war has narrated thousands of personal stories’ and Ms. Mahjabeen Khaled said ‘We will hope that in the 21st century the global community will stand alongside with Bangladesh, not just to remember, but also to recognise the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971’
Paying rich tributes to Bangabandhu, founder of Bangladesh the former ambassador of Pakistan in USA said, ‘had he lived, I am certain he would have supported the idea of a formal apology from Pakistan for the tragedy inflicted on the people of Bangladesh during their war of liberation. This demand is supported by fair-minded people, like Pakistani dissidents like me, the Pakistan diplomat said adding, collective apologies help heal wounds and enable nations to deal with past wrongdoing. Bangabandhu’s life and struggle make him a hero for the people of Bangladesh and other nations but in a fairer world, he would not have had to face the repression and injustice that he fought at great cost to himself and his family, Mr. Haqqani further said.
War crimes have been brought to Europe again. This city of international justice is watching current events with great trepidation. The Netherlands is still haunted by the ghosts of World War 2. The Nazi Occupation and the death of thousands of Jews, like Anne Frank, are woven into the national fabric. We can’t forget the dehumanisation, gas chambers, and the barbarity. We shouldn’t forget they continue to happen again and again. We are told ‘never again’, but we know realpolitik and selfish national interest get in the way. Profit and power before people. The Balkans are still raw because of the ethnic cleanses of the 1990s and today Ukraine is under intense bombardment.
In his video message from London Mr Chris Blackburn said, ‘the issue of recognition for the 1971 genocide is very important. We need to keep reminding people of this genocide issue. Pakistan is labouring under guilt and lies Mr Chris said adding, it hasn’t learnt any lesson from 1971 because it has never been made accountable for its behaviour. A new generation of Afghans, Balochis, and others are the direct victims of global failure to hold Pakistan to account. I believe we need to make them pay, he concluded.
Speaking on the day Dr Tommaso Virgili said, in 1971 Bangladesh was born as a secular state, but this character was progressively lost in time. In 1975, Jamaat e Islami was made legal again. In 1977 the reference to God Almighty was introduced in the Constitution, and secularism deleted (before being restored in 2010); in 1988 Islam became the state religion.
In the Q&A sessions the participants wanted to hear more about the next steps needed for the recognition of the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide in Bangladesh. Mr Haqqani pointed out how important small events are, to keep the memory and gain in depth information from the people who remember this Genocide, as Dr. Wolfgang-Peter Zingel said. Dr. Tommaso Virgili agreed and indicated the importance of Recognition for the 1971 Bangladesh Genocide “Memories are used to make justice”, he opined.
DEMONSTRATION IN GENEVA HELD
EBF ALSO organized a two-day long demonstration in front of the historic ‘Broken Chair’ at the UN building in Geneva, Switzerland on 25-26 March 2022. The demonstration was organized in collaboration with the International Human Rights Commission Bangladesh, Geneva and Switzerland Secular Forum. The demonstration reiterated the demand for trial of the perpetrators responsible for the genocide in Bangladesh and international recognition of the 1971 genocide committed by Pakistan army. The demonstration was live telecast by the London-based British Bangla News.
Dr. Mojibur Doftori, a writer and senior researcher from Finland facilitated the demonstration. The demonstration was addressed among others by Khalilur Rahman Mamun, Director of International Human Rights Commission Bangladesh, Nazrul Islam, President of Switzerland Awami League, Shyamal Khan, General Secretary, Switzerland Awami League, prominent exiled blogger from Bangladesh Omi Rahman Pial, EBF Representative of EBF AHM Abdul Hai, Palash Barua, General Secretary of International Forum for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB), Switzerland, Mashiur Rahman Sumon, Vice President, Switzerland Awami League, Arun Barua, President of Bangladesh Minority Council Switzerland, Local Awami League leaders Sasim Gauri Charan, Nipu Barua, Sajia Rahman, Sumon Chakma, Swiss Awami League organizing secretary Akbar Ali, IFSB Switzerland advisor Hasan Imam Khan, Switzerland Awami League adviser Abdur Rob, Ashraful Alam Liton, Asharaful Alam Azad, Mia Abul Kalam, Organizing Secretary of the All European Freedom Fighters Association.
At one stage the visiting State Minister for Labor and Employment of Bangladesh, Begum Munnujan Sufian joined the demonstration. Addressing the demonstration the state minister who is on an official visit said, it was time for recognition of Bangladesh genocide by Pakistani army and its accomplices. It is high time for honoring the victims of genocide and their descendants through recognition. It is important to recognition of genocide and to bring perpetrators to justice. Unfortunately, the genocide against Bengalis has become a forgotten chapter in history today and we all know that 'justice delayed justice denied.' She said, 'we have to learn from history. We need to understand the mistakes of the past and work together to build a better world for the new generation in Bangladesh and Europe. Today we face social injustice all over the world and as politicians and people we cannot remain silent.
Bangladeshi expatriates, politicians, academics, researchers and human rights activists took part in the protest. The programme of protests and human chain were broadcast live on various television channels in Bangladesh and the London-based British Bangla News channel.