The night the genocide began

[oRTHOHIn]

March 25 arrives once again evoking painful memories of a night of murder and mayhem, the beginning of the genocide of millions of Bangalees by the Pakistani occupation forces.

On this night in 1971, the Pakistani military rulers launched "Operation Search Light" against the unarmed Bangalees. Dhaka University was attacked and students exterminated in the hundreds. Death squads roamed Dhaka streets, killing some 7,000 people in a single night.


It was to be only the beginning. On March 26, the nation waged an armed struggle against the Pakistani occupation forces following the declaration of independence by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Pakistani forces arrested Bangabandhu as he, through a wireless message, called upon the people to resist the occupation forces.

Later, Awami League leader MA Hannan and Major Ziaur Rahman (later president of Bangladesh) read out the proclamation of independence on behalf of Bangabandhu, which was broadcast from Kalurghat radio station in Chittagong.

A nine-month liberation war began culminating in the surrender of the Pakistani aggressors on December 16.


Different socio-cultural and educational organisations have taken up elaborate programmes tonight to observe the dark night of March 25.


The Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee will hold a rally of the freedom fighters and families of the martyred at 7:30pm at the Central Shaheed Minar. Professor Kabir Chowdhury will preside over the rally.

The rally over, the participants will take out a torch procession and pay their homage placing those candles at the graveyard of the martyred freedom fighters at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.


The Liberation War Museum will organise a musical soiree and a function from where an account of genocide will be read out at the museum premises at 5:00pm today.


Faculty of Fine Arts of University of Development Alternative will arrange street painting on Manik Mian Avenue from dusk today until dawn tomorrow.

The nation will celebrate the 34th anniversary of its independence tomorrow.

Apart from official Independence Day programmes, different socio-cultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day.

Newspapers will bring out special supplements

 

[Apod]

kanna chole ashe jotobar pori bhoyongkor ek kalo raat... ((

[Apod]

Professor Rafiqul Islam

[Translated by Zunaid Kazi]

25th March 1971. Universities were closed because of the non- cooperation movement; neither students nor teachers were attending classes. Even then one has to go back a little bit to speak about the events of 25th March. The elections had established the supremacy of the Bengali majority. Consequently, the power to rule the country should have been vested in the hands of their elected representatives, but the authoritarian ruling clique of the west were in no mood to accept the judgement of the people. That is why they cancelled promised sitting of the parliament on the third of March.

In the face of this insult, Bengalis became defiant. The Bangobondhu's thunderous declaration in a mammoth public meeting on the 7th of March - "ebArer shongrAm shAdhinatAr shongrAm: This struggle is the struggle for independence" - began to echo in the skies of Bangladesh. That struggle began with non-cooperation, court boycotts, tax revolt, meetings, processions and other mass actions. The Pakistani government became totally paralyzed.

The incapacitated totalitarian government was incensed and gave vent to it's fury on the black night of 25th March.

Dhaka citizens were apprehensive that the aggressor army might take recourse to a blood-bath. Innumerable barricades were built across the streets and roads of Dhaka. But, they were futile. Soon after day-break, the barbaric attack commenced. Numerous tanks and armored carriers took to the streets. Doors and windows of houses began to reverberate with the sounds of firing cannons, shells and mortars. The deafening rolls of the weapons of death shattered the silence of dusk. And it appeared as if tongues of flame were dancing the dance of daemons on the stage of a blood red sky. Dhaka has been transformed into a bloody war field.

Just like the previous days, some of us had gathered at the University Teachers Meeting Room. Under the aegis of the teachers association we were busy through out the month of March in arranging protest meetings and processions and putting out joint statements. Everyday work always awaited us, and that day was no different. Doctor Khan Sarwar Murshed had prepared a statement that we were planning to present to the British high Commission. Just a few days ago, a news item was published where we learnt that the British Government had permitted the Pakistani Navy access to the port facilities of the then British protectorate of Maldives for repairs and refuelling. We were apprehensive that if at our hour of need the Indian Navy puts up a naval blockade along Pakistani shores, Pakistani ships might attempt to reach Chittagong by way of the Maldives. that is why we were appealing to the British; our statement professed our great concern at the purported action. for several days we attempted to collect signatures form well known citizens. Former Ambassador Kamruddin Ahmed signed, whereas former governor Sultanuddin refused to sign our statement.

On the morning of 25th March Doctor Murshed, Doctor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Doctor Belayet, Professor Ahsanul Haque, Professor Giasuddin Ahmed (later murdered by Al-Badr), Professor Joynul Abedeen (deceased) amongst others presented our statement to the first secretary at the British Deputy High Commission. On our return to Campus we came across the leaders of Central Students Action Committee Tofael Ahmed and Sheikh Kamal. Sheikh Kamal had come to campus to pick up Tofael Ahmed. Tofael Ahmed told us that the meeting between Yah Yah and the Sheikh Shaheb had ended without agreement; no one knew what might happen.

In the afternoon I went to the University club. All the teachers there were pretty worked up. Some were berating the Awami League leadership for not having yet declared independence. In the evening, the Seven O'clock English news on TV we heard of the Bangobondhu's news conference earlier in the day. There he had said - If the Pakistani Army attacked the innocent and peace loving Bengalis then the gallant sons of Bengal will not let that pass unchallenged... etc.. On the way home from the club that night I met up with some known students students from Iqbal Halls. Two students Feroze and Moin told me that they were leaving Iqbal Hall for safety. They advised me to take my family elsewhere to safety since my house was so near Iqbal Hall. But it was already 10 at night, where could we go? I had no premonitions of what was going to befall us two hours hence.

Behind Iqbal Hall were University quarters 23, 24 and 25. In total 24 teachers stayed in those buildings with their families. I was a resident of the second floor of building 24. Doctor Fazlur Rahman of the Botany Department lived in building 23. In the same building Professors Anwar Pasha and Rashidul Hassan resided with their families in the apartments on the fourth floor. Just across from building 25 was the Nilkhet railroad. On the other side of the rail-line there was a slum where several thousand homeless eked out a leaving. In front of our buildings and parallel to the Nilkhet Road was four residences of University Administrative Officers. From the night of 35th March through the morning of the 27th Iqbal Hall and the adjoining residences were the main target of the Pakistani Army attack.

Just after midnight on the night of 25th March, the Pakistani Army began their attack on the Student Halls and Staff Quarters of the University. Since Iqbal Hall was known as the head- quarters of the Free Bengal Students Action Committee a major portion of the Pakistani Army fury was directed at Iqbal Hall. Just after midnight Iqbal Hall came under a barrage of heavy mortar and machine-gun attack from near the pond in front and the police barracks behind it. Immediately students and bearers from the Hall, and Bengali Policemen from the Nilkhet Barracks tried to escape and seek refuge in the adjoining teacher's and staff quarters. The Bengali soldiers of the EPR who were on duty at the President's House were disarmed and then to Ramna Race-Course where they were gunned down. Several EPR soldiers managed to flee and found refuge amongst our midsts. The Army set on fire the Nilkhet slum and in cold-blood machine gunned fleeing slumdwellers from the Nilkhet Rail-Gate. Many managed to escape from the slum and also took shelter with us.

I don't have the words to express the bestiality and barbarity that was perpetrated on the Dhaka University area, especially Iqbal Hall, Jagannath Hall, and adjoining residential areas, for a period of 36 hours from the night of the 25th till the 26th night. What transpired around Iqbal Hall, I saw with my own eyes. Raging infernos everywhere; the slum was burning, the cars parked around the residences were burning. The heaped bodies of the dead from the slum were also set on fire near the Nilkhet rail gate petrol pump. The sound of shells bursting and guns firing, the smoke and fire, the smell of gun-powder and the stench of the burning corpses all transformed the area into a fiery hell. Every so often our building was being peppered with bullets. In the midst of this, we, our families, the students and bearers from the Halls, the slum-dwellers, had given up all hope for life, and were waiting for the hour of death. For most of March, student leaders Nur-e-Alam Ziku and Shahjahan Siraj used to spend the night with thus, but on that fateful might they weren't with us. Had they been with us we would have been very apprehensive about their safety.

The incessant firings from cannons, mortars, tanks, machine-guns and automatics continue throughout the night. On the morning of the 26th the Pakistani killers began to go through the hall rooms and residential apartments and began their orgy of murder and looting. Huge gaping holes appeared on Iqbal Hall and the ad- joining residences of the bearers as a result of the shelling. Many bearers died as a result. Those unfortunate students and bearers of Iqbal Hall who had failed to flee were all killed by the Pakistanis. Some surviving students were taken to the Iqbal Hall kitchen where petrol was poured over them and then they were burnt alive. The university correspondent of the Daily Azad was shot near the auditorium. So was bearer Shamshu. The water pump workers of the Hall as well as the bearers were all brutally murdered by the Pakistani fiends.

Having finished their slaughter in Iqbal Hall, the Pakistani animals turned their attention to the residential buildings. The first began in flats of building 23. This here that they murdered Professor Fazlur Rahman of the Geology Department and two of his relatives. They also entered the flats of Professors Anwar Pasha and Rashidul Hassan. Everyone in those flats were hidden under the beds. After failing to see anyone in the torch light, the Pakistani soldiers were heard saying: "Bangali Kutta Bhag Gia - The Bengali dogs have flown." Even though Professors Pasha and Hassan miraculously survived from the Pakistani barbarians, death still met them on the 14th of December, on the eve of Victory, when the killers from Jamat-e-Islam, Islami Chhatro Shango, and the Al-Badr Muslim Bangla, murdered many intellectuals near Mirpur. Another resident of the building, Dhaka University Assistant Librarian Mridha miraculously survived. But about 30 women, men and children from the slum who took refuge on the roof did not live to see another day. Each of them were brutally murdered by the barbaric Pakistanis, and for nigh over a month their corpses fed the vultures and crows. After several months their skeletons were brought down from the roof; the same day the skeletons of 50 Rokeya Hall staff and their families were removed.

The Pakistani hyenas also entered the building we were in, no 24. On the third flight two mothers from the slum had taken shelter. Their babies were with them. Both of them had been shot in the legs. On seeing the blood allover the entering Pakistani soldiers thought that some of their colleagues had already been through our buildings and so did not enter it. That is why we survived. We did our best to help those mothers and the day we left Nilkhet we had them admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

On that night the Pakistani beasts had also attacked Madhu's Canteen and Rokeya Hall. Madhu Da, and his family, bearers and ayahs of Rokeya Hall and their families, were all brutally murdered that night.

Jagannath Hall too faced the fury of the Pakistani Army. Incessant shellings and blood-letting continued their throughout the night of the 25th and the day of the 26th. After the shelling, the soldiers went from room to room and brought out all the students and bearers to the field in front of the hall. There they were forced to dig their own graves. Subsequently they were all shot and buried in the graves they had dug themselves. Amongst all the residential halls of the University, Jagannath hall paid most dearly in terms of lives lost. In the teacher's corner of Jagannath Hall's Assembly House used to live Applied Physics' professor Anuddoipayon Bhottacharjo. On that night the Pakistani animals entered his room and bayonetted him to death. His body was put out near the big tree close to the Hall auditorium for some time, and was then probably buried in the mass grave in the field. At the end of the night, the Pakistani beasts attacked the residence Dr. Gobindrochondro Deb opposite the hall. They first shot him in the head and then bayonetted him. They dragged his body outside, and in plain view drove a truck over him. His corpse was then taken to the Jagannath Hall field and was probably buried in a mass grave. Close to Dr. Deb's house, near the Shaheed Minar, used to reside Professor Muniruzzaman and Dr. Jyotirmoy Guho Thakurta. Around 3 in the morning the Pakistani entered their residences and shot Professor Munirazzaman, his son Akram, and Dr. Thakurta. They died instantly. In the same building, professor Abdur Razzak and Dr. Anisur Rahman survived miraculously. On the same night, the Pakistani soldiers also attacked the Fuller Road faculty residences. Their first target was building 11. There they entered the residence of University Laboratory School teacher Mohammed Sadek. The animals first bayonetted him and then shot him in cold-blood. His dead body remained in that building till December 27. On the 27th he was buried behind the flat. They barbarians had also attacked building 12. They had dragged out Professor Syed Ali Naki of the Social Sciences Department, and a gentlemen by the name of Syed Syedul Islam. For some inexplicable reason they were not killed, but Professor Abdul Mutkadir of the Geology Department. from the same building, was brutally murdered. They dragged his body somewhere; it was eventually found on the 27th inside Iqbal Hall. The Pakistani animals had also attacked Salimullah Hall and Dhaka Hall. They beat up Salimullah Hall house tutor Professor Munim, and murdered Professor A. R. Khadem at Dhaka Hall.

This is how we spent those 36 hours. When on the morning of the 27th, the so called curfew was lifted, we all left the area for wherever we could. During those 2 days I had thought that everything was over, and we were all condemned to perpetual slavery; but, the firm and strong voice from Chittagong's Shadheen Bangla Betar Kendra told us that we had not died yet, and I lived again. That is why I still live today.

© All rights reserved.

[Apod]

Nation celebrates 35th Independence Day
Staff Correspondent

The nation celebrates today the 35th Independence Day and National Day to pay tributes to the three million martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for independence, with fresh pledge to build a happy and prosperous society to materialise their dream.

On March 26, 1971, independence of Bangladesh was formally declared, leading to the nine-month Liberation War against the Pakistani occupation forces and resulting in the emergence of a sovereign state on the global map.

Thousands of peace loving Bangalees in the then East Pakistan on this day took up arms against the highly-trained Pakistani military for freedom as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the country's independence on March 26.

After the occupation army brutally cracked down on the unarmed Bangalees on the night of March 25, they joined all-out guerrilla warfare for independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu.

After many years of political and economic exploitation, the Bangalees' nationalist sentiments paved the way for the massive victory of the Awami League led by Bangabandhu in the 1970 Pakistan national elections.

The Pakistani junta in the then West Pakistan however refused to hand over power to the then East Pakistanis. They stalled installation of the newly elected parliament and started ethnic genocide aimed at extinguishing all signs of Bangalee nationalist movement.

In the face of this, the inevitable declaration of independence came on March 26.

Bangalee policemen and paramilitary and army personnel had defected from the West and trained the general public, who took up arms to fight for freedom.

They had fought without proper food, shelter, training and arms and ammunition. But it was their determination to free the motherland and the all-out support of the people that had led to victory.

But for the last three and a half years, Jamaat-e-Islami, which had opposed the Liberation War and helped Pakistani military forces kill freedom fighters and intellectuals, has been enjoying the state power.

Even two of its leaders, known to be involved in anti-liberation activities in 1971, are now in the cabinet.

PROGRAMMES
The day's celebrations begin with 31 gun salutes at dawn.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will lead the nation in paying tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar early in the morning.

Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, socio-political organisations, freedom fighters and people of all walks of life will then place wreaths at the memorial.

The national flag will be hoisted atop public and private buildings. Important public buildings will be illuminated tonight to give them a dazzling look.

The president will take salute at a ceremonial march-past by contingents of freedom fighters, armed forces, BDR, police, BNCC and Ansar-VDP at the National Parade Ground in the capital at 9:00am. The prime minister will also attend the function.

Armed forces' bands will play patriotic songs at different city points to entertain the public. Army band will perform at the Crescent Lake point, Navy at the Farmgate and Airforce at the Second National Stadium, Mirpur point from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

A number of navy ships will remain open to public at Sadarghat in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Mongla port and Barisal from 2:00pm to 5:30pm.

To mark the day, the ruling BNP has taken up a 10-day programme that includes placing wreaths at the national memorial and mazar of late president Ziaur Rahman. The BNP also brings out an Independence Day rally from its party office at 4:00pm today.

The Awami League (AL) will bring out an Independence Day rally at 3:00pm in front of its party office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

Other political parties, social and cultural organisations have chalked out separate programmes to mark the day.

MESSAGES
President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in separate messages have paid deep respect to the martyrs of the Liberation War.

The president in his message urged all to work selflessly from their respective positions to fulfil the public's basic needs such as food, clothes, shelter, education and healthcare to make independence meaningful.

The prime minister recalled with gratitude the supreme sacrifices of the freedom fighters and contributions of other people at home and abroad during the Liberation War.

She called upon all to be united to build a happy, prosperous, peaceful and free democratic society.

The opposition chief said the desire for achieving political and economic freedom and ensuring justice and democracy has grown among the people after the nation achieved freedom under the leadership of Bangabandhu.

"But the misrule of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government is taking the nation towards a disaster," Hasina, also Awami League chief, said. She called upon all to come forward unitedly against the government 'misrule'.

[Apod]

Martyr Intellectuals
Dhaka University Teachers

* A. N. M. Munier Choudhury
* Dr. G.C. Dev
* Muffazzal Hyder Chowdhury
* Anwar Pasa
* Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurata
* Abdul Muqtadir
* S. M. Rashidul Hasan
* Dr. A.N.M. Faizul Mahi
* Fazlur Rahman Khan
* A.N.M. Maniruzzaman
* Dr. Serajul Haque Khan
* Dr. Shahadat Ali
* Dr. M.A. Khair
* A.R. Khan Kadim
* Muhammad Sadeque
* Sharafat Ali
* Ghiasuddin Ahamed
* Ananda Payan

Rajshahi University Teachers

* Prof. Qayyum
* Habubur Rahman
* Shree Sukha Ranjan Samadder

Names of M.C.A.s

* Mashiur Rahman
* Amjad Hossain
* Aminuddin
* Nazmul Haque Sarker
* Abdul Haque
* Syed Anwar Ali
* A.K. Sarder

Names of Journalists

* Sirajuddin Hossain
* Shahidulla Kaiser
* Khondakar Abu Taleb
* Nizamuddin Ahmed
* A.N.M. Golam Mustofa
* Shahid Saber
* Sk. Abdul Mannan(Ladu)
* Nazmul Haque
* M. Akhter
* Abul Basar
* Chisty Helalur Rahman
* Shibsadan Chakravarty
* Selina Akhter

Names of Physicians

* Md. Fazle Rabbi
* Abdul Alim Chowdhury
* Shamsuddin Ahmed
* Azharul Haque
* Humayun Kabir
* Sulaiman Khan
* Kaiser Uddin
* Mansur Ali
* Ghulam Murtaza
* Hafez Uddin Khan Jahangir
* Abdul Jabbar
* S.K. Lal
* Hem Chandra Basak
* Kazi Obaidul Haq
* Mrs. Ayesaha Bedoura Chowdhury
* Al-Haj Mamotazuddin
* Hashimoy Hazra
* Naren Ghose
* Zikrul Haq
* Shamsul Haq
* M. Rahman
* A. Gafur
* Mansur Ali
* S.K. Sen
* Mafizuddin
* Amulya Kumar Chakravarty
* Atiqur Rahman
* Ghulam Sarwar
* R. C. Das
* Mihir Kumar Sen
* Saleh Ahmed
* Anil Kumar Sinha
* Sunil Chandra Sharma
* A.K.M. Ghulam Mustafa
* Maqbul Ahmed
* Enamul Haq
* Mansur(Kanu)
* Ashraf Ali Talukdar
* Lt. Ziaur Rahman
* Lt. Col. Jahangir
* Badul Alam
* Lt. Col Hai
* Maj. Rezaur Rahman
* Maj. Nazmul Islam
* Asadul Haq
* Nazir Uddin
* Lt. Nurul Islam
* Kazal Bhadra
* Mansur Uddin

Names of Litterateurs

* Zahir Raihan
* Purnendu Dastidar
* Ferdous Dowla
* Indu Saha
* Meherunnessa

Names of Artists, Professionals, etc.

* Altaf Mahmud
* Danbir Ranada Prasad Saha
* Jogesh Chandra Ghose
* Dhirendra Nath Dutta
* Shamsuzzaman
* Mahbub Ahmed
* Khurshid Alam
* Nazrul Islam
* Muzammel Haq Chowdhury
* Mohsin Ali
* Mujibul Haq

Source: "Onslaugth on Intellect and Intelligentsia" by late Nurul Islam Patwari published in BANGLADESH: A Souvenir on the First Anniversary of Victory Day, December 16, 1972

[Apod]

Violence of 25 March

On the night of 25 March, Pakistan Army began a violent effort to suppress the Bengali opposition. In Bangladesh, and elsewhere, the Pakistani actions are referred to as genocide. Before carrying out these acts, all foreign journalists were systematically deported from Bangladesh. Bengali members of military services were disarmed. The operation was called Operation Searchlight by Pakistani Army and was carefully devised by several top-ranked army generals to "crush" Bengalis.

Although the violence focused on the provincial capital, Dhaka, the process of ethnic elimination was also carried out all around Bangladesh. Residential halls of University of Dhaka were particularly targeted. Hindu areas all over Bangladesh suffered particularly heavy blows. By midnight, Dhaka was literally burning.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was considered dangerous and, hence, arrested by Pakistan Army. Awami League was banned by General Yahya Khan. Some other Awami League leaders were arrested as well, while few escaped Dhaka to avoid arrest.

[Shadharon meYe]

The Razakars killed almost as many people in 1971 as their Paki masters did. In an article written in the Azad, dated January 15, 1972, the inhuman atrocities of the Pakistani troops and their associates, the razakar and al-Badr forces were described. There are so many stories that we dont know, like the dissapearance of Zahir Rayhan, death of Mashiur Rahman, rapes in DU

Go visit this link and you will know all those stories,

http://muktadhara.net/page35.html

After reading the link, I found this intersing information

('the raped women who became pregnant after September and less than three months pregnant in early 1972, they did not go the abortion centers and hospitals at all'; does it mean that majority of them gave birth to children? )

[Bondhu]

War-babies are referred to here as babies born to Bengali women consequent of their being raped by Pakistani soldiers and other criminals who took advantage of the situation of the war of liberation (March 1971 to December 1971). While they are referred to as the 'unwanted children', the 'enemy children', the 'illegitimate children', and more contemptuously, the 'bastards', their birth mothers are also variously referred to as the 'violated women', the 'dishonored women', the 'distressed women', the 'rape victims', the 'victims of military repression', the 'affected women' and the 'unfortunate' women. Many birth-mothers committed suicide in order to avoid social stigma. Many pregnant women went to India and other places either to terminate pregnancies or arrange deliveries. Many babies were born at home. But unfortunately, accurate or fairly reliable statistics are not available for any of these categories of victims. The situation has led us to make guesswork and presumptions about the number and fate of war babies. Some limited evidences are to be found in government and non-government organisations records and records of foreign missions and missionary organisations.

An Italian medical survey, for example, put the number of victims at 40,000, the London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) estimated it at 200,000. Dr. Geoffrey Davis, a social worker dealing with the management of war babies at the time argued that the number could go higher. How many victims got pregnant and delivered babies is absolutely uncertain. A government estimate put it at 300,000. But the methodology adopted for reaching this figure was not sound. According to Dr. Davis, about 200000 women became pregnant. But it was only his guess, not a study.

Newspaper reports of the time, which included interviews of Justice K. M. Sobhan, Chairperson, BWRP, Sister Margaret Mary, Superior, Missionaries of Charity, Dr. Geoffrey Davis, the IPPF personnel such as Odert von Shoultz, reveal that 2,3000 abortions were performed at various Dhaka clinics by a team of British, American and Australian doctors, with assistance from some Bengali counterparts. In a sense, it makes the most comprehensive information on abortion in early 1972, following the arrival of the foreign doctors in Dhaka who set up several abortion/delivery clinics referred to as Seva Sedan in Dhaka.

Newspaper reports indicate that between 300 and 400 children were born in the premises of 22 Seva Sadans (that is delivery centres or clinics) which were established across Bangladesh. The Executive Director of the Canadian UNICEF Committee, following his visits to both occupied Bangladesh and independent Bangladesh, where he held discussions with representatives of the League of Red Cross Societies and the UNICEF personnel, reported to headquarters in Ottawa that the estimated number of the war-babies was in the neighbourhood of 10,000. While no exact records are available to determine the accuracy of such figures, it is probably safe to assume that the number seems incredibly high. Ten thousand is, by far, the largest number quoted in any record that made reference to the birth of the war-babies in 1972.

Government's initiatives in tackling the problem The first, and most important, initiative that the government of Bangladesh took was the creation of a body called Bangladesh Women's Rehabilitation Board (BWRB) on 18 February 1972. Partnering with the Directorate of Training, Research, Evaluation and Communication (TREC) of the Bangladesh Family Planning Association, the Central Organisation for Women's Rehabilitation, the Directorate of Social Welfare of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour, the Board had two broad goals: (1) to organise clinical services wherever possible in Bangladesh within the limited time span of three to four months to provide medical treatment to the rape victims; and (2) to plan, organise and establish facilities and institutions, specially vocational training centres, to effectively rehabilitate thousands of destitute women in needing immediate help. Destitute women were not necessarily 'violated women' but were considered to be 'war-affected' in that they had lost either their husbands or the bread earners of the family (such as father, etc), killed by the Pakistan Army, or had lost their property during the war.

Through its Rehabilitation Programme for the Violated Women, the government sought innovative ways to enhance the self-esteem of the victims and their status in the nation as noble contributors be regarded with pride. Honouring the unsung heroines, the government had declared that they deserved national recognition for their valiant role in the War of Liberation. In an attempt to find and promote a positive voice around these victims, the government, after several rounds of consultation with interest groups, came forward to honour them with the title Birangana (heroines) not as a sign of disgrace and humiliation but as a symbol of honour and courage. By honouring them as such, it was believed that they would be seen as the symbol and embodiment of everything that is descent, courageous and noble. It was also believed that such recognition of sacrifice would open the doors for the Biranganas who would then be accepted by the society as both triumphant and tragic. Simultaneously, the government continued to seek advice from all quarters to formulate its policy on the abandoned war-babies.

Inter-country adoption of the war-babies Following a personal request of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the U.S. Branch of the Geneva-based International Social Service (ISS/AB) was the first international non-profit organisation to come forward to advise the government concerning the war-babies. Two local voluntary agencies, the Dhaka-based Bangladesh-Central Organisation for Women Rehabilitation and the Family Planning Association, had worked with the ISS throughout the consultation and implementation phases.

Canadian initiative in adopting the war-babies Canada was one of the first countries in the world which had expressed an interest to adopt the war-babies of Bangladesh. Through personal efforts of Mother Teresa and her colleagues at Missionaries of Charity, and the government of Bangladesh's Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, two Canadian organisations got involved in adoptions. They were the Montreal-based Families for Children, a non-profit adoption agency for inter-country adoption, and the Toronto-based Kuan-Yin Foundation (pursuing relief of distressed children in the world), a non-profit adoption agency initiated by a group of enthusiastic Canadians. There were other countries such as the US, the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Australia, to name a few. In addition, there were many organisations, such as, the US-based Holt Adoption Program, Inc. and Terre des Hommes.

In facilitating adoption of war-babies by foreign nationals, the government promulgated a Presidential Order entitled The Bangladesh Abandoned Children (Special Provisions) Order 1972. When the first contingent of 15 war-babies from Bangladesh arrived in Canada on 19 July 1972, they received comprehensive media coverage for days. The key media message was that interracial adoption programmes were a positive initiative and that Canadians of diverse background should endorse such an initiative.

The end of the war-baby question International participation in the re-habilitation of war-babies had a debatable aspect. The adopting agencies of the West showed more interest in the rehabilitation of war-babies, not in their birth-mothers. The war babies were mostly from Muslim women and they were destined to be raised as Christians in the adopting countries, an aspect which made public opinion in Bangladesh quite hostile to inter-country adoption initiative. The war-baby question came to a close by 1974 when the babies were either transported by then to foreign lands as adopted ones or begun to be raised at home as normal domiciles of Bangladesh. [Mustafa Chowdhury]

http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/W_0021.htm

personally ami canada te je koyjon warbabies giyechhilo tader onekkei chini .. jodio ora khub akta nijeder porichoy dite chayna .. karon ta khub ii shabhabik .. keno na manush oder dekhlei onek beshi utshahi hoye pore .. akta chheleke jantam jar canadian ma amar landlady chhilen .. chheleta dhakate eshe suicide korechhilo ..

[PAGLA]

Bondhu apu darun ekta post korle.. how come those criminal get a seat at out parliament? this is humiliating for us. how can we face those war children while letting the criminals at the throne? just imagine that woman who had to gone through all these. what is the sin of those war children for that he/she has to live into a foreign country and being untouchable. let me tell those who says the liberation war in 1971 was an accident, how can u justify the number of war children by ur so called “accident�? i think we have waited long enough now is the time just not in speaking but making that into reality. thank you bondhu apu for ur wonderful post.

[Shadharon meYe]

shob omanushhhh!!! pagla tomar moton kore koi jon bhabe ? amra shobai jodi ei rokom bhabe bhabtam etodine oi manush gulor fashi hober kotha.. ei manush guloi abar dhormo niye onek hoi choi kore.. shame of them... ora nijer attar kache ki jobab dibe ami tai bhabi

[Bondhu]

sm .. eder atta bole kichhu achhe kina janina .. thakle era ato omanush ki kore hoy tao bujhina ..

phashi eder hobar thakle kobei hoye jeto .. ei lokgulor phashi na hobar karonei ajke deshtar ato durdosha .. e bepare akta kotha mone porlo sheta e thread e na bole notun akta thread khuli ..

[KittyBrainy]

The screen is asking you where you want to save your recorded video. Check mark the drive that you want it to save on and then click the 1st button. Next, click ok and that should be it.

[terraferra]

The 19th century began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar. During the 19th century, the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Ottoman empires began to crumble, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved, and the Mughal empire collapsed. This helped pave the way for The British Empire, The German Empire, and additionally The United States of America to spread their influence internationally. This led to each power engaging in conflicts and new advancements in exploration and various sciences.

[LordVaders]

dgeneo your post brings this piece to mind. Im hoping the Salon regulars will enjoy it and that Budgie wont mind my putting it here - it just seems fitting somehow. Its called GodGodthe Immovable Moverthe Onebehind all events in the cosmos,isthe still point,the binduaround whicheverything revolves,because He is still with peace of loveand yetdancing eternallyin everything that exists.His dance is union,union of elements;His dance is rhythm,pulsation of life.All forms are boundin a single stream -a thread, a linka uniting force -be they plants, animals, or starsHarishi Johari

[TuRiS.kA]

I became divorced in October, I had jointly signed in July for a truck that my ex-husband took in the divorce because I already had a vehicle. I have since lost that vehicle due to finances and he has not paid spousal support since November. What can I do to force him to get my name off of the truck loan so I can purchase another vehicle in the future and not have him keep ruining my credit with late payments which occur just about every month.