Victory Day Reminds Us Pakistan's War Crimes in Bangladesh
1971 War
Mr. Sona Kanti Barua:
16th December is the Victory day of Bangladesh reminds us when in 1971
ninety thousand Pakistani army surrendered to Indian Army and Bangladesh
freedom fighters in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah's Pakistan
was broken into two parts and People's Republic of Bangladesh was established
in the world map. Today, as the world moves to the 'knowledge revolution,'
history speaks Pakistan wins freedom by Bengali wisdom and indomitable
courage. In Dhaka Bengali people founded the Muslim league in 1905. Indo-Bangla's
great leader Sher -e- Bangla A.K Fazlul Haque made a proposal for the
Indian sub-continent's sovereign Muslim States (Islamic Republic of Pakistan
and Republic of Muslim Bengal etc.) in the resolution of the Muslim League
at Lahore, 23rd March, 1940. Bengali Muslims made Pakistan. Unfortunately
Md. Ali Jinnah gets all credits concerning the formation of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan and founder of the "Pakistan Proposal"
was A. K. Fazlul Haque did not get his historical honor from the Pakistani
politicians. Pakistani politicians use Islam as weapon and its Army and
leaders killed three million Bengali people and raped two hundred thousand
women. In 1948 being the father of the nation late Muhammad Ali Jinnah
declared in Dhaka that Pakistan's national language will be Urdu. Bengali
is the language of Hindus, so Muslims should not speak, write and think
in Bengali Language. History speaks on this day of 21st February in 1952,
when a number of valiant sons of Bangladesh including Rafiq, Salam, Barkat,
Jabbar and Shafiq sacrificed their lives in Pakistani police firing to
establish the state language of the erstwhile East Pakistan which is today's
Bangladesh. After the series of movements, the Pakistan government bowed
down to the demand of the Bengali people and endorsed the Bangla as one
of the state languages. In 1999 UNESCO proudly declared, "We pay
tribute to the people of Bangladesh, whose passion for their own language
has inspired the designation of 21st February as the "International
Mother Language Day." Later Bengali people's trust on Pakistani rulers
were betrayed and Pakistani army discarding the democratic verdict of
the people cracked down on the innocent civilians of Bangladesh in arresting
the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the night
of the March 25, 1971 ( 1.30 a.m. of March 26, 1971).
But racism grips sub-continental political environment. It is our political
epidemic of discriminations. Pakistan could solve problems on Indus River
with India. But Pakistan could not solve problems on the Ganges River
and Farakka with India. Racism dictates in our daily political systems
day by day. People's Republic of Bangladesh wins freedom on the16th December
1971. History repeats itself and Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and its
people's hands is no less a mission than waging another war to get back
to their original position. Their independence is truly in danger of being
hijacked by pro-Pakistani (razakars) fanatic fundamentalists and murderers.
Pakistan's President Prevez Mosharraf does not apologize for Pakistan's
war crimes from Bangladesh but he inaugurated an international conference
in Pakistan on Dec. 18, 2006 to mark the centenary of the All India Muslim
league's centenary celebration. Moreover, ISI is trying its best to destroy
the sovereign identity of Bangladesh and rebuild it as Pakistan again.
Daily poor people are dying and killing in a name of politics and religion
in Bangladesh. In-sallah, let us see the political game of Pakistan as
it continues.
Recently we read concerning Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf's book
entitled "In the line of Fire," and his young romance with two
young girls of Bangladesh. When Bangladesh wins freedom Mr. Parvez Musharraf
cried a lot. Why? General Musharraf's memoirs are sad and poignant reminder
of the damage that reminds us military rule has inflected on East Pakistan
(Present Bangladesh), in 1971. Pakistani Ninety Thousand Army surrendered
to Bangladesh and India governments as he explained in his book. He writes,
Why my fixation on Karachi? The reason was not my family - it was that
my Bengali girlfriend was there." Love is, in giving and apologizing.
It is a disgrace to see Musharraf did not comment on Pakistan Army who
killed in Bangladesh 3 million people and raped four hundred thousand
Bengali women in 1971 in his book. Pak Armies in Bangladesh who have no
morality as by violating the human values and on human grounds General
Musharaf did not apologize officially from Bangladesh for war Crimes of
Pakistan 1971 war. Pakistan's sins haunt the conscience of Pakistani soul
days to come," As you sow, so you reap." Mosharraf fails to
apologize from Bangladesh for War crimes in 1971 war. It is remarkable
that the triumph over prejudice and ignorance is a triumph for us all.
Humanity is like the ocean. Nobody could divide it in the name of politics
and religion.
Where there is humanity, there is religion or Islam. Islam means peace
but in Pakistan it means Pakistani military and political leaders (but
few of them are good) killed 3 million people (including raped 4000,000
women) and we demand to prosecute the persons for genocide in Bangladesh
in 1971 war. But according to the historical facts from 14th August 1947
began a history of discrimination and the Holocaust in Bangladesh by the
West Pakistani leaders and Army from 1948 - 1971. Pakistani Army misuse
Islam made Bangladesh's religious and ethnic minorities who have been
persecuted, tortured, raped, murdered, forcibly converted to Islam, and
evicted by the Islamic nationalists since 1948 - 1971. Killing of Bengali
intellectuals and in memory of this event, December 14, 1971 is mourned
in Bangladesh as the Day of Martyred Intellectuals (Shaheed Buddhijibi
Dibas). Which is worth more, blood, racism or greedy brand religion in
Pakistan? Bengali civilization, freedom, heritage, language etc. have
to leave only for "Pakistani trademark Islam." Pakistani rulers
made the people of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) slaves in the
name of Islam.
We are grateful to Bangladeshi, Indian and Bhutanese thousands of soldiers
who shed their blood and sacrificed their lives trying to help us liberated
our homeland Bangladesh from the clutches of the greedy misguided Pakistan
Army and leaders of Pakistan.
1. Yahaya Khan, military president of Pakistan in 1971. He refused to
transfer power to Awami League after the general election of December
10, 1970 when Awami League had won the general election. Gen. Yahya Khan
was pretending to hold during this period with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman on the one hand and political leaders from West Pakistan on the
other. Although he never formally declared these negations to have failed,
yet he secretly left Dhaka on the evening of the 25th of March, 1971,
leaving instructions behind for military action to be initiated when his
plane reached the Karachi area.
2. General Abdul Hamid Khan, Chief of Army staff (CAS), was one of the
sinister conspiracy architects of Bangladesh Genocide. This General, popularly
known as General Hamid was in Dhaka before March 26, 1971, working on
a military plan to terrorize Bengalis.
3. Lt. General Gul Hassan Khan, Chief of General Staff (CGS), Pakistan
Army. Contrary to what he might have said, he was one of the principal
architects of Bangladesh Genocide. His very presence in troubled land
of Chittagong during the early days of Bengali resistance proves beyond
any shadow of doubt that he was an active planner of Bangladesh Genocide.
4. Lt. General Tikka Khan, military chief in East Pakistan during March
through December 1971. He was a planner and Chief Executioner of Bangladesh
Genocide. Later he became the Governor of East Pakistan.
5. Lt. General A. A. Niazi, 6. Major General Rao Farman, 7. Major General
A. O. Mitha 8. Major General Khadim Hussain , 9. Major General Rahim Khan
and 10. Lt. General Sahibszada Yaqub Khans are all Planners and Executioners
of Bangladesh Genocide.
Pakistani national father Mohammad Ali Jinnah wanted to confiscate Bengali
people's mother tongue in the name of Islam. Mr.M. A. Jinnah and Pakistani
leaders did not understand that change has to come from within. Until
that happens, many of the bullies, the bigots and the bad of the world
will listen to the cries of Islam. West Punjabi language uses Arabic alphabets
in the Punjabi or Urdu languages and later Urdu became the national language
of Pakistan. Pakistan's Islamic rulers and militant don't realize humanity
and they don't respect justice, morality and honesty.
Thus the Pakistani leaders use religion Islam to confiscated people's
rights. It is well documented in the holy Qur'an, "You can't abuse
other religion. ( 6 : 106). However, universal Islam does not allow the
demolition of other people's religious thoughts, temples and churches.
The violation of human rights in Pakistan is directly linked to the rise
of militant Islam and Bin Laden's Al-Quaida. The Islamic fundamentalist's
elements which actively opposed the creation of Independent People's Republic
Bangladesh; failing to the thwart the inevitable victory despite their
collaboration with occupying Pakistan forces in the Bangladesh independence
war, have concocted a long term, multi - prolonged plan to make Bangladesh
a pure Islamic theocracy. Most civilized nations have already been victimized
by the Islamic extremists. Pakistan government does not recognize all
human beings are endowed with the inalienable dignities of equality and
uniqueness which makes each of us precious beyond measure. Officially
Pakistan government and non-governmental organizations have to apologize
from the people of Bangladesh. They have to learn that we are governed
by our compassion for each other as brother and sister of mankind.
Mr. S. K. Barua is an author of several books in English on World
Peace and Meditation and former representative of the World Fellowship
of Buddhists to the United Nations.
