US Recognition For Bangladesh The Forgotten Role Of Viggo Olsen

Jehangir Hussain :
American missionary physician Viggo B Olsen played a key role in forging friendly ties between newly independent Bangladesh and the US. As a result Bangladesh got US recognition and assistance in shortest possible time though the US had opposed Bangladesh’s independence during its War of Independence in 1971.
In his 356-page autobiography, ‘Daktar Diplomat in Bangladesh’ published by Moody Press, Chicago in 1973, Dr Oslen provides a well-researched brief history of Bangladesh’s freedom movement.  
His autobiography is an exploration of faith and missionary medical work in the backdrop of the War of Independence of Bangladesh. He provides the dramatic story of his phenomenal surgical, diplomatic adventure during the 1971 war. He also narrates in it his family background and their chosen path of becoming oversees missionaries.
Dr Viggo was the head of Memorial Christian Hospital at Malumghat, Dolahazra, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazzar before Bangladesh’s War of Independence. After the US State Department declared East Pakistan unsafe for Americans during the war, Dr Oleson returned to the US crossing the Naaf River, via the then Burma’s Mongdu, Akiab and Rangoon, then the capital of Burma.
He was naturally keen to return to newly independent Bangladesh but found it difficult to get a visa. And Bangladesh ambassador Enayet Karim himself issued the visa to Dr Oleson.
He was the first US citizen to get Bangladesh’s visa. His visa number was ‘001’.
In 1980s, the then superintendent of police of Cox’s Bazaar, Malik Khasru came to know Dr Oleson at the Christian Hospital where he had taken a critically ill police constable for treatment. Khasru recalls that the physician presented him a copy of his book.
In the introduction of the book, Oleson wrote, ‘Pakistan …was a geographical absurdity. East Pakistan, moreover, different from West Pakistan in nearly every respect: nationality, appearance, language, dress, diet, customs and culture. Only the Islamic religion and the daily inter-wing flights of Pakistan International Airlines held the two disparate wings together.
‘It was nothing but the eighth wonder, invented by the then leaders of Hindu Congress and the Muslim League.
For his role in securing US recognition and assistance for the newly independent Bangladesh, Oleson became known as ‘Daktar Diplomat’. The classic missionary story of Dr. Olsen continues to thrill readers with its blend of excitement, insight, and inspiration. He met the founder of Bangladesh in newly independent Bangladesh. He forged deep friendship with Bangladesh ambassador to the US, Enayet Karim and MR Siddiqui.
Departing from a carefree Nebraska boyhood into the operating rooms of noted hospitals, Dr. Olson rejected an opportunity in academic surgery to serve suffering East Pakistanis before 1971. He wrote several other books including ‘The Agnostic Who Dared To Search’.

(Adapted from a write-up of police officer Malik Khasru with fresh inputs).
(Jehangir Hussain is a senior journalist. Email: jehangirh@yahoo.com).