Pursuing unbiased support to recognize the 1971 genocide
Alaul Alam :
Genocide is a gross violation of human rights referring to deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or an ethnic group with an aim to destroying that nation or group.
The United Nation (UN) Genocide Convention in its Article Two has stated genocide as crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part.
Over the ages the world has witnessed countless incidences of genocidal crimes against humanity leading to innumerable deaths and destructions, spreading hatred and disrupting peace of the world.
Undeniably, the genocide Bangladesh experienced in the 20th century was one of the most devastating ones in the history of human civilization and in many cases the intensity of the atrocities against the people of Bangladesh went beyond the parameter the UN Convention has stated to define genocide in general.
In 1971 the country achieved independence through a nine-month long battle pricing the death of as many as three million people, thousands of rape victims and the forced displacement of some ten million people. In the name of operation searchlight–a most infamous armed operation Pakistan forces attacked upon the innocent Bengali people, killed politicians, teachers, students and above all the people from all walks of life. They continued committing genocidal activities against the Bengali people for the long nine months until the final victory is achieved.
Despite huge massacre during the liberation war how far we could draw the attention of the world community to ensure justice? Pakistan presented bias information and hardly acknowledged their genocidal activities to the world community. However, world media covered the news of brutal killing of the Bengali people.
Anthony Mascaren has, a reputed Pakistani journalist wrote a report on genocide which was published in the UK’s Sunday Times on June 13, 1971. Simon Dring and Mark Tully reported extensively on the genocide committed by Pakistan armed forces during the liberation war in Bangladesh.
Despite huge evidences claiming genocide against the people of Bangladesh it was hardly discussed in the international platform. International Commission of Jurists found the evidences of atrocities by Pakistani military and para military.
They agreed partially with the statement that there had been a genocide but conclusive judgement has yet been announced over the last five decades.
Although international media, scholarly researchers and policy makers have found the evidences of extreme atrocities upon the Bengali people and termed it selective genocide, things get frustrating as the recognition of the genocide in 1971 is yet to be established.
Despite frequent urges to gain the recognition of the genocide over the years Bangladesh has constantly been facing a politics of denial.
However, yielding to the international pressure Pakistan government formed Hamoodur Rahman Commission which stated many instances of atrocities during the liberation war in Bangladesh but unfortunately, the commission neither acknowledged nor denied the claim of genocide.
It is evident that Bangladesh has been ill-fortunate and deprived of international justice over the ages due to the unwillingness of international community and geopolitical conflicts emerging around the globe.
During the liberation war the segregation of super power countries with their political, geopolitical and economic interests was inevitable for their involvement in the affairs of the liberation war of Bangladesh who had hardly intention to establish justice for Bangladesh rather than showing the powers and influences to supersede one another.
The influential countries were involved in geopolitics and emphasized the power of balance. In the liberation war political interests overwhelmed the USA to support Pakistan providing arms and funds. To save the Pakistan forces from the defeat they did all the arrangements to send their mighty seven fleet.
Things have become obvious that the international community and UN agencies were mostly preoccupied to accelerate the diplomacy of ending war rather than stopping the genocidal activities committed by the Pakistan forces in Bangladesh.
Even in Bangladesh a section of people who were the local agents of Pakistan opposed to the spirit of the liberation war.
Not only that, they raised questions regarding the announcement of the proclamation of Bangladesh independence and the formation of the war-time government in exile.
They always wanted to belittle the credit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman–the greatest leader and statesman who declared the independence of Bangladesh on 26 March in 1971.
Even after more than fifty two years of the independence they go against the seminars and symposiums corresponding to the recognition of the genocide in 1971 and they are seen proactive to continue to lighten the extent of the atrocities the Pakistan army and their local collaborators committed.
Studies have revealed findings that the ideological, political, cultural and economic issues of the international community have deprived Bangladesh of getting genocidal recognition.
It is worth noticing that Bangladesh has been observing the 25th March as “Genocide Remembrance Day” since 2017 to highlight genocide committed against the Bengali people, to end it once and for all in the world as well as to make the world community aware of the ongoing atrocities against humanity in different parts of the world.
Different organizations and agencies of Bangladesh are working to draw the attention of the world community to get recognition of the genocide in 1971 through continuous initiatives including collecting evidence, carrying out research, and campaigning, etc. over the years.
However, frustration deepens when we notice that the youths of the country know a little about the genocide in 1971. As they lack information, they hardly ponder over the atrocities in 1971against the people of Bangladesh and in most cases, they seem devoid of genuine spirit towards the people and the country.
But to boost the young generation to be sensitized about the historical background of the country and the atrocities committed by Pakistan army and their local collaborators is one of the key issues for the recognition of the genocide in Bangladesh.
In my opinion, recognizing genocide is a must to ensure justice for the victims in 1971. If the perpetrators are identified and brought to book, it could be a message to the world in establishing justice and perpetrators would not see any scope to get away with it. The doors to recognize genocide for the country have not shattered yet. It is urgent to raise voices from different quarters and place the issue of genocide to the international ground.
Obviously, the role of the UN is very pivotal not only to ensure the genocidal recognition for Bangladesh but also to help eliminate such hatred episode that continuously affects humanity in some places of the world. Last of all, priority must be given to mobilize collective efforts to pursue unbiased supports for the recognition of the genocide in Bangladesh.
(The writer teaches at Prime University. He is also a Research Scholar at the IBS)
