International Conference on ‘Bangladesh: Justice after Genocide’ at Leiden University, the Hague on 24 March 2022
European Bangladesh Forum (www.ebforum.eu), a platform of Bangladeshi diaspora in Europe will organize an international conference on ‘Bangladesh: Justice after Genocide’ at Leiden University, Wijnhaven Campus, the Hague, Lecture Hall 2.02 on Thursday 24 March 2022 at 14:00-18:15. The conference is being organized in collaboration with the Leiden University UNICEF Student Team the Hague & SESA (South East and South Asian) Club by CIROS (Community of International Relations and Organisations Students).
A number of experts, academics, diplomats, university teachers, researcher from U.K., USA (Washington), Germany, Netherlands and University student leaders will take part in the conference as speakers. The speakers include: Mr. Husain Haqqani, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States & Director, South and Central Asia, Hudson Institute, Washington, USA- ‘Bangabandhu and the Struggle for Bangladesh’, Dr. Wolfgang-Peter Zingel, South Asia Institute (SAI), University of Heidelberg, Germany- ‘The twelfth stage of genocide and the economics of a collective amnesia’, Mr Chris Blackburn, Communications Director, Swiss Inter Strategy Group; 'Friend of Bangladesh' Award Recipient, London, UK- ‘Bangladesh and the Spirit of 1971: Past, Present, and Future’ Dr. Tommaso Virgili, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at WZB Berlin Social Science Center, Berlin, Germany-‘The threat of Islamism in Bangladesh - from the genocide to the present day’ and Mr. Bikash Chowdhury Barua, President EBF Netherlands. From among the student groups, Mr. Rohan Sharma, Leiden University International Studies & Head, SE and South Asia Club, Ms. Manju von Rospatt, Leiden University College: Liberal Arts and Sciences & General Volunteer Coordinator and Board Member, UNICEF Student Team and Ms. Annabel Witsch, Leiden University, International Relations & Organisations & Head of Awareness team of UNICEF student team will also speak on the day.
A 10-minte Documentary film titled, ‘War Crimes 1971’ will also be screened on the day.
It may be mentioned that during the 1971 Genocide in Bangladesh, the Pakistan military deliberately harmed to hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi citizens. The horrors of 1971 are considered one of the worst mass atrocities in history. The damage they inflicted can be described in the following numbers. 3 million people were believed to have been killed, up to 200,000 women were violated and over 10 million people were forced to cross the border to India to seek shelter. The perpetrators were the Pakistani military, the victims innocent Bangladeshis.
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. Bangladesh has been looking to other countries to recognise what happened in 1971. A recognition from Pakistan and other countries in the world, was not made. Politics and realpolitik are said to have gotten in the way.
Without further delay, there needs to be an UN-sponsored Resolution condemnation against Pakistan for its role in 1971 in Bangladesh. The perpetrators of the 1971 Genocide must be brought to justice. The new generation must know what treatment was meted out to Bangladeshi people who deserve to enjoy equal human rights. Due to lack of international recognition, the history of that horror, the 1971 Genocide committed by Pakistan has become faded in the world context today. Bangladesh community in Europe feel that the 1971 GENOCIDE should be recognised by the international community to give justice to the victims of the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army and its political leadership in 1971.
LIVE TELECAST: The conference will be live telecast by the London-based British Bangla News (http://britishbanglanews.com/) and can be watched at the following links.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1893291424235804/posts/3178918299006437/?d=n
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/OOQ-dMBqSS0
DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF ‘BROKEN CHAIR’, UN IN GENEVA
EBF will also organize 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 is being organized in collaboration with the International Human Rights Commission Bangladesh, Geneva. The demonstration will reiterate the demand for trial of the perpetrators responsible for the genocide in Bangladesh and international recognition of the Bangladesh genocide committed by the Pakistan army and the government. The demonstration will also be live telecast by the London-based British Bangla News at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Here are the links to watch live demonstration in Geneva.
Facebook Link : https://www.facebook.com/1893291424235804/posts/3180442015520732/?d=n
You Tube link : https://youtu.be/WC_9MW9YFtc