Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 From The Perspective Of An American Holy Cross Missionary Brother

Cover page of the dossier on Bangladesh War of 1971
by Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., presented at 1995
Conference on the History of the Congregation of Holy Cross
in Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.

Above Image Courtesy: village.hcc-nd.edu/

Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C.

Photo courtesy: www.up.edu/

Holy Cross missionary Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C. (1922-2017) was a well-known missionary, teacher, headmaster, and a superior of the Holy Cross Brothers in the Archdiocese of Dhaka in Bangladesh. He was popularly known as "Brother Fulgence."

He served in Bangladesh from 1947 to 1972. He was headmaster of St. Gregory's High School in old Dhaka, Holy Cross High School at Bandura, and St. Joesph's High School at Mohammadpur, Dhaka. 

From the last week of March until the day of independence on December 16, 1971, the West Pakistani military and their allies in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) had unleashed a reign of terror by shooting, arson, looting, and rape on the freedom-loving populace of East Pakistan. These unjust and uncalled for atrocities and cruelties had alienated many a foreigner living and working in this part of the world. Brother Fulgence was no exception.

Brother Fulgence was a diarist, too. In his diary, he kept a record of his observations, thoughts, and reflections. 

With the help of his diary and some newspaper reports -- especially The New York Times -- he wrote a dossier on the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971. He presented it at the 1995 Conference on the History of the Congregation of Holy Cross on June 15-17, 1995, at Holy Cross College, Holy Cross Brothers Center, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A.

In this paper, Brother gives a short background that led to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He then gives some specifics on events in Dhaka city, St. Gregory's High School (dozens of Hindu refugees from neighbouring areas -- including N.C. Sutradhar and D. N. Pal Chowdhury -- two teachers of the same school and Paul Costa -- the sacristan of the adjacent Catholic church abducted and later killed by the army at Jagannath College army camp), St. Joseph's Trade School at Narinda, Nagari and Bandura areas, and some other parts of the country. 

Please read his complete paper by clicking on the item below:

• The Bangladesh War and One Holy Cross Brother (by Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C.) [On Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971] 

To know more on Brother Fulgence J. Dougherty, C.S.C., you may also click on the following:

• Brother Fulgence (James) Dougherty, CSC
• Brother Fulgence Dougherty, C.S.C., Dies

Historic 7th March 1971 Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman giving his historic speech 
in Ramna Racecourse (later called Suhrawarthy Uddyan) of Dhaka on March 7, 1971

The original b/w photo digitally painted by Adrian D'Costa (Sept. 6, 2018)

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh, delivered an impassioned speech on March 7, 1971, among widespread tension between the Pakistan army in power and the common people of East Pakistan (later called Bangladesh), at the then Ramna Race Course (later renamed Suhrawarthy Uddyan) in Dhaka to a huge crowd of about two million people. 

In this speech, he called on the freedom-loving people of East Pakistan to keep their struggle on until realization of their full rights and privileges, and, if necessary, independence from the Pakistani ruling elite, dominated by the military. 

Please read below about this speech and listen to Bangabandhu's inspiring voice:

• 7 March Speech of Bangabandhu 
• The Historical 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [Full English transcript of the Bengali-language speech]
• [Video] 7 March Speech of Bangabandhu (his original speech -- given in Bengali)
• UNESCO recognises Bangabandhu's historic 7th March Speech (Oct. 31, 2017)

Related Item: 

• "The Sheikh Mujib Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh: U.S. Government Records and Media Documentation" (March 26, 1971)

(Updated on Sept. 20, 2018)

Today Is the 45th Victory Day of Bangladesh

Jatiyo Smriti Shoudho (national war memorial) at Savar, Bangladesh

Artwork: Mary D'Costa (Toronto: Dec. 15, 2015)

Today is Bangladesh's 45th Victory Day. On this day we specially remember the dead, who, during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, gave their lives to make the deadly struggle for independence and freedom a reality. Due to the sacrifices of these departed souls, freedom fighters, sacrificing population of the country, and foreign support, Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation. 

The people of the then East Pakistan always had to struggle against the Pakistani ruling elite (big landlords or zamindars, government bureaucrats, and military leaders, mostly belonging to West Pakistan) since the independence of Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1947. The emergence of Pakistan itself was based on lies -- the populaltions of both the wings (East and West Pakistan) would live in freedom, prosperity and peace! The promises and actions of the ruling elite were always based on lies, and, even after independence of Bangladesh, the Pakistan government spews lies about the Liberation War. They are even using their money and material to influence some foreign governments and organizations as well as their local agents in Bangladesh to disrupt the war crimes trials in Dhaka. 

To understand the reality of the Bangladesh War of Independence (also called Liberation War) and the childish lies and hoodwinking efforts of Pakistan regarding the War, please read the following series of write-ups and videos published in the online edition of The Daily Star of Dhaka: 

• Genocide plot conceived at duck shooting trip
• Genocide coolly planned, carried out
• The blueprint for massacre
• Bangladesh's Liberation War: The night of horror 
• Pakistanis tried to keep foreign journos away
• Cables of genocide  
• Partners in genocide
• A living proof of Pak army's atrocities  
• It's Pak carnage with US supply (Declassified cables show how strongly America backed Pakistan)
  
• They did everything to block trial by Bangladesh 
• Shame they hid for 28 years (Non-publication of the Hamoodor Commission Report)
• Pakistan used Nazi Killer Eichmann's argument 
• Pakistan still in denial and self-deceit 
• Pakistan lying, still 
• 195 Pak soldiers can still be tried for genocide  
• The Diplomat monk (Venerable Sangharaja Jyotipal Mohathero)
  
• Opinion: Pakistani war criminals of 1971 still free [Brigadier R. P. Singh, VSM  (Retired) of India]
• Opinion: Demanding apology from a myopic establishment (Mohammad Nurul Huda, The Daily Star columnist)
• Opinion: Between Liberation and Freedom: Reflections on the Constituent Assembly Debate (Nazmul Sultan, Ph.D. student of Political Theory, University of Chicago, USA)
• Opinion: So we really remember? (Sushmita S. Preetha, activist and journalist)
• Opinion: It is important to remember 1971 (Julian Francis, former OXFAM official in India and Bangladesh and a recipient of the Friends of Liberation War Honour from the Government of Bangladesh)
  
• Opinion: BNP-Jamaat must explain what is Hanadar Bahini (occupation forces) (Sharier Khan)
• (Opinion) Atrocities by Pakistan Army: Why so shy to mention it? (The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islam party leaders use hanadar bahini (occupation forces), shying away from saying Pakistan occupation army, Razakars, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams) (Rashidul Hasan)
• [Video] Sector Commander Shafiullah (Part 1 & 2)
• [Video] 'Intellectual killings brainchild of Pak collaborators' (Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed)
• [Video] Pakistan lying about 1971 genocide  
• [Video] Gobinda Halder: 1971 war lyricist 
• [Video] War crimes researcher Shahriar [Kabir] (Part 1)  
• [Video] Guerrilla fighter Shahzaman [Mozumder] (Part 1 & 2)
  
• Freedom in the Air (Film and video footages of 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh) 

Book on 1971 War Babies of Bangladesh to be Published Soon

 

Mustafa Chowdhury, author of a book on 1971 Bangladesh war babies adopted in Canada

Mr. Mustafa Chowdhury, a retired Canadian Federal Government public servant and a freelance researcher and writer, has written a book on 1971 war babies of Bangladesh adopted in Canada in 1972. This book gives the background and status of the war babies as well as their own and their adoptee familes' testimonies. The University Press Limited of Dhaka, Bangladesh, is publishing this book this year.

War babies are children born of Bangladeshi women who had been raped by West Pakistani soldiers and their local collaborators. These babies were born or taken care of in Mother Teresa's Shishu Babhans (children's homes) and other institutions. Since Bangladeshis were reluctant in accepting them as their own, these babies were given for adoptions in families of Western countries, including Canada. These babies are now more than 40 years old.

In an interview with the ATN television station, Mr. Chowdhury speaks in detail about this book. You may watch the video at War Babies of Bangladesh Interview With Mustafa Chowdhury on ATN Bangla

“Jamaat does not have any right to do politics in Bangladesh,” Says the Son of Jamaat-e-Islami Party’s Founder

Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi, son of Syed Abul A'la Maudoodi, founder of Jamaat-e-Islami Party

 Photo courtesy: DhakaTribune

Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi (69) is the son of Syed Abul A’la Maudoodi (1903 - 1979), the founder of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party . He is a columnist in Lahore, Pakistan, and a former airlines pilot. On October 6, the DhakaTribune published his interview that deals with Jamaat-e-Islami Party’s politics, state religion, Islam and politics, war crimes and War Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka and so on. 

To a question, Syed Haider Maudoodi replied, “Jamaat does not have any right to do politics in Bangladesh, particularly when they opposed the birth of it [Bangladesh]. They neither have the right, nor should they be allowed to do politics here…I think it is your leaders’ fault. Your leaders allowed them to do politics in this country after the independence. If you allow them, accept the fact that their politics is based on religion.”

He further added, “The question is who is behind this situation in Bangladesh? See, the constitution Sheikh Saheeb (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) left is no more in the country [Bangladesh]. How did that happen? Who changed it? One needs to think about these too…Sheikh Saheeb banned Jamaat, isn’t it? Then who allowed them to come back again? You were in this country, think about it. Until and unless you find out where the power lies, which is supporting Jamaat, you would not reach the root of the problem.”

To another question on Islam and politics, he replied, “Whenever religion was interpreted in a political way, it killed humans and it ruined humanity…The holy Quran does not talk about politics, it rather talks for the person so that one can become better.”

He adds, “Political interpretation of religion always brings destruction in the society. Nowhere in the holy Quran does it talk about administering others. The holy Quran talks about individuals. It is about a person, not about administration or a system….”

About war crimes and the War Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka he says, “Anywhere, if any people commit crimes against humanity, s/he needs to be punished. If those people have committed such crimes then they undoubtedly need to be punished. Locals (Bangladeshi) also had a duty to not let them do politics after independence. Who let them come back to politics here?”

For the long and detailed interview of Syed Haider Farooq Maudoodi, you may visit, “Religion based politics is the biggest threat,” published in the DhakaTribune.

'The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide': A Must Read for the Bangladeshis and Their Foreign Friends

The cover image of The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide by Gary J. Bass

To know the real history behind the genocide and immense suffering of the East Pakistanis (Bangladeshis) in 1971 at the hands of the West Pakistani ruling elite and behind-the-scene support to and manipulations of West Pakistani Generals by US President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser and later Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the above-mentioned book is a must read. 

University of Princeton Professor Gary J. Bass’ book, The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide, was published by Alfred A. Knopf publishers in late September. The author demonstrates with facts how the Cold War faceoff between the US and the Soviet Union played out with the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971. The US government morally and materially supported the West Pakistani ruling class, headed by General Yahya Khan, and the Soviet Union doing the same with the Indian government, headed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who gave refuge to more than 10 million Bangladeshi refugees in India and provided guerrilla training and arms to Bangladeshi freedom fighters, called the Mukti Bahini.  

Dexter Filkins, a staff writer for The New Yorker and former correspondent in South Asia for The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, in his The New York Times review of this book, writes: “The Blood Telegram…has revived the terrible and little-known story of the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, and of the sordid and disgraceful White House diplomacy that attended it. This is a dark and amazing tale, an essential reminder of the devastation wrought by the hardhearted policy and outright bigotry that typified much of the diplomacy of the cold war. It is not a tale without heroes, though; a number of American diplomats – especially a man named Archer Blood – risked and even sacrificed their careers by refusing to knuckle under to the White House and telling the truth about what was happening on the ground.” 

Archer Blood was the Consul General, the most senior diplomat, in the American Consulate in Dhaka in 1971. He regularly sent reports of the actual situation of West Pakistani military killings, arrests, torture and burnings in Bangladesh to his superiors in the US State Department. When nothing happened, he and 20 other Americans, risking their jobs and positions, later sent a dissenting telegram condemning the US government apathy and policy towards East Pakistan. This telegram is now called the “Blood Telegram.” His superiors even tried to silence them. 

The titles of the chapters of this book are:

--Preface

--South Asia, 1971

--The Tilt

--Cyclone Pakistan

--Mrs. Gandhi

--“Mate and Horrified Witnesses”

--The Blood Telegram

--The Inferno Next Door

--“Don’t Squeeze Yahya”

--Exodus

--India Alone

--The China Channel

--The East is Red

--The Mukti Bahini

--“The Hell with the Damn Congress”

--Soviet Friends

--Kennedy

--“We really slobbered over the Old Witch”

--The Guns of November

--The Fourteen Day War

--“I Consider This Our Rhineland”

--Epilogue: Aftermaths

For more information and comment on the Blood Telegram book, you may access to: 

•  Collateral Damage by Dexter Filkins (in The New York Times)
• Book Review: 'The Blood Telegram' by Gary J. Bass (by Peter R. Kann, in The Wall Street Journal, New York)
• The Birth of Bangladesh: Blood Meridian (A new history sheds fresh light on a shameful moment in American foreign policy) (The Economist, London)
• The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide by Gary J. Bass (by Peter Gordon, in Asian Review of Books, Hong Kong)
• Return to Bangladesh by Bernard-Henri Levy (in the Huffington Post, USA)

The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger, and a Forgotten Genocide needs to be translated into Bangla (Bengali) and be published in Bangladesh as soon as possible for its maximum circulation. The translation rights should be sought from its author and publisher immediately.

Bangladesh Govt. Honours Foreign Supporters of the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971

L-R: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President Zillur Rahman 

and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni at the awarding ceremony 

of foreigners in Dhaka

Photo courtesy: bdnews24.com

In an elaborate ceremony on March 27 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka, the Government of Bangladesh honoured 83 foreigners and foreign organizations for their roles in 1971 supporting the independence movement of Bangladesh, report Bangladesh news sources.

In 1971, Bangladesh (former East Pakistan) was engaged in deadly war of independence with the military ruling elite of West Pakistan (presently called Pakistan). After a nine-month war, Bangladesh gained independence on December 16, 1971.

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the awards in two categories – (1) Bangladesh Liberation War Honour (for foreign heads of states) and (2) Friends of Liberation War Honour (for foreign persons from different walks of life and foreign organizations). 

The recipients of the awards were heads of states, ministers, lawmakers, artistes, humanitarian activists, lawyers, military officers and personnel, journalists and writers. They come from Bhutan, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Soviet Union (presently Russia), Sweden, United Kingdom, U.S.A. and former Yugoslavia. 

President Zillur Rahman, speaking on the occasion, said: “Bangladesh is grateful to recognize contributions of the country’s foreign friends and well-wishers who whole-heartedly supported the war of independence and rendered invaluable endeavour of freedom from their respective positions.” “Their precious inspiration and support put impetus to achieve our victory,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “They gave us all sorts of help available – food, shelter, medicine, and even military training. Most importantly, they gave greater voice to our legitimate cause, facilitated our access to global media, mobilized public opinion and financial support…Their moral and logistics support had been a constant source of inspiration for our valiant freedom fighters.”

Among these honorees were four foreign Roman Catholic missionaries who dedicated their life for the service to the people of Bangladesh. These missionaries are: Father Mario Veronesi, S.X. (from Italy) who was shot dead by West Pakistani army personnel for giving shelter and treating internal refugees in Jessore after March 25 and later military attack on ordinary citizens, many of whom were Hindus; Father William P. Evans, CSC (from the USA) who was also killed by West Pakistani military personnel for helping internal refugees and supporting freedom fighters in their efforts in Golla-Bandura area of Dhaka District; Father Richard W. Timm, CSC (from the USA) who assisted many East Pakistanis in different ways in different areas of East Pakistan and created public opinion in the USA in favour of the Bangladesh war of independence; and Father Eugene E. Homrich, CSC (from the USA) who gave shelter and fed innumerable East Pakistanis in Jalchatra-Pirgacha area of Tangail District and helped create public opinion in the USA in support of the freedom struggle in East Pakistan. 

All the 83 award recipients, many dead and some alive today, saw the West Pakistan army's blatant atrocities, injustices and total disregard for life in East Pakistan during the nine-month liberation war in 1971. Their conscience moved them to support the cause of the East Pakistani victims in different ways. There's no doubt that their voice and action against this genocidal war were a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration to the East Pakistanis. 

The complete list of the first batch of the award recipients can be viewed at: The Awardees. More of such awards will follow in future.