Article
Village life during 1971
[In 2002, Liberation War researcher Afsan Chowdhury started a history project called ‘Bangladesh 1971’. As part of this work, a four-volume book called ‘Bangladesh 1971’ was published in 2007. In 2013, another project called ‘Gramer Ekattor’ started. Based on the information from that project, he published a book titled ‘Gramer Ekattor’ in 2019. Inspired by the author’s ‘Gramer Ekattor’, Views Bangladesh brings its Victory Day event ‘How was the village life during the 1971 war?’]
Bangladesh: The dream of lonely charioteers
Jean Eugene Paul Kay was a 29-year-old young man from a wealthy family in France, one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. At that age, he was supposed to be busy with his profession, beloved, and his own life, or be drunk in all the famous French bars. But what a strange humanity, he hijacked a Pakistan International Airlines plane, risking his life. He joined the Bengali liberation struggle. This incident created a stir in France and the whole of Europe. When the mediator spoke to Jean Kay, he demanded that 20 tons of medicine and relief materials be sent for the Bengali refugees who had taken refuge in India! At one point in the hostage incident, the security guards shot him in the chest. He was seriously injured but survived. Later, when detailed information about the matter was published, the French government sent relief medicine for the Bengali refugees.
Guerrilla girl, Pakistani child, boatman's wife and bullet-hit Pakistani woman
Bangladesh achieved its independence through a nine-month-long armed struggle. As in a people's war like the Liberation War, it was a war beyond the battlefield. Every person in the country, young and old, women and children, service holders and housewives, became a warrior. This is another war within the war, a daily battle for survival. The stories of that war have been lost and continue to be lost. This collection of memoirs by the heroic freedom fighter Kazi Ferdousi Haque Linu is an attempt to piece together these lost stories. The very stories are lost in the crowd of uncounted events.
Bruised and battered Selina Parvin in shallow pit of abandoned brick kiln
The Rayerbazar area, located on the outskirts of Dhaka city, was once quite desolate. It was a low-lying wetland along the riverbank. During the dry season, several brick kilns operated in this area, which was commonly known to the people of Dhaka as “Itkhola” (brick kilns). In newly independent Bangladesh, the bodies of the nation’s finest sons were discovered in the shallow, circular pit resembling a pond of one such abandoned brick kiln. These bodies bore marks of extreme brutality—chests and backs riddled with bullets, hands tied behind their backs, fingernails uprooted, various limbs crushed, bodies perforated by gunfire, deep bayonet wounds, and half-decomposed remains. These were the bodies of enlightened individuals—freedom-loving Bengali professors, doctors, lawyers, journalists, and professionals from other walks of life.
Dhaka besieged, Pakistan forces' defenses start collapsing
December 12, 1971. Just four days before the independence, the battlefield in Bangladesh reached its peak of maximum tension. The Indo-Bangladesh joint forces surrounded Dhaka from all sides. The defenses of the Pakistani forces collapsed; most of the areas of the country was declared a liberated area. In the international arena, the independence of Bangladesh was practically certain—this was the most important day just before the victory.
Bogura's 'blood hell' pond and 14 martyred freedom fighters
A red alert was suddenly issued in Thonthonia, Sutrapur, Hazipara, Tetulia and Pasharipara of Bogura city on November 11, 1971.
December 10: Sacrifice of Birshreshtha Ruhul Amin, beginning of intellectual killings
December 10 holds a special place in the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. On this day, the warfront saw decisive victories, while Dhaka witnessed the beginning of the brutal intellectual killings. The nation also lost one of its greatest heroes—Birshreshtha Mohammad Ruhul Amin.
December 9: The final march towards victory
December 9, 1971. The countdown to the final victory of the great Liberation War has begun. Pakistani occupying forces were surrounded from all sides. The allies and the liberation forces are advancing from all sides with the aim of reaching Dhaka quickly. Only a few more days to wait, which became clear in the inauguration ceremony of the Bangladesh Mission in Delhi and in every news from the battlefield.
Women's position in society: Begum Rokeya's perception still equally relevant
A few days ago, a major earthquake occurred in Bangladesh. The entire Facebook was flooded with news of the earthquake. Just then, someone jokingly posted a status on Facebook, the statement of the status was something like this, even if there is an earthquake, the first thought that comes to women's minds is where is her veil! This status went viral and many people shared it on their Facebook walls jokingly. I then went into their comment box and my eyes welled up when I saw the comments!
December 8: A historic day on the eve of victory
In the final phase of Bangladesh’s Liberation War, December 8 became a decisive turning point. On this day, developments across the military, political and international fronts made Pakistan’s defeat inevitable and brought the dream of independence within reach.