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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

[chottala.com] The death is 3 million as recorded unless there is a concrete proof otherwise - the anti liberation force are constantly trying to cut their heinous crime



Dear Readers,
 
As said by Sk. Mujib, and in the official record, the death in the liberation war is 3 million unless there is a concrete proof otherwise. Why we spend time here unnecessarily?
 
The anti liberation force always tried (and still trying) to bring the number down to cut their heinous crime against Bangladesh and lessen their upcoming punishment.
 
With best regards,
Dr. Emarat Hossain Pannah
A former freedom fighter (Wing Leader [FJ Tura Sector] and Company Commander [11 Sector])
 
 
From: Mohammad Maniruzzaman <maniruz@gmail.com>
To: bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 8, 2011 5:34 PM
Subject: [bdresearchers] Re: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths

 
Dear Friends,
 
I remember that a strong debate took place in the parliament during 1991-96 when BNP was in the Government and AL in the opposition. I don't remember who raised the issue bu the debate was continued in the parliament for many days. AL point was what the leader said and known throughout the world. Those not honoring it must be RAZAKAR. BNP gave a figure from the government record that about after a nation wide drive to enlist the "Saheed" and the families in which at least one person killed by the Pakistanis or RAZAKARs the figure worked out was about  287,000. Before this drive government announced that all Saheed Families will get financial assistance and for that purpose this list was being prepared. After a very comprehensive work executed by then AL government, financial assistance was provided for about 287,000 Saheed. I don't remember whether it was number of Saheed family or Saheed person. This should still be available in the relevant ministry.  of
 
Even if the figure is of Saheed family, it is quite likely that in most cases number of Saheed is one per family. This is consistent with the figure of around 300,000 persons killed which was reported to the leader by the then BBC Deputy Head of Bengali Service, Mr. Sirajjur Rahman and the leader might have emotionally or mistakenly gave a figure of 3,000,000 at a time when he had just came out of Pakistan jail.
 
Best regards.
 
M. Maniruzzaman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 8:46 PM,  <bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> Messages List
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Ahsanul Haque, Re: 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> 2. Sayed, Hares (DRES), RE: 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> 3. Sajjad, RE: 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> 4. Bulbul Ahmed Bulu, RE: 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> 5. S A Hannan, RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis--survey must even now for true unfolding of history
> 6. Mohammad Maniruzzaman, Re: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
>
> Reply 1
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Ahsanul Haque <ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com>
> Date: Tue Jun 21, 2011 5:42 am
> Subject: Re: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I think, 'out of country during liberation war' may not be a good reason to understand Dr. Rahman's estimate. Actually, we can tell anything about number of death, as no complete investigation made.
>
> Now, we are claiming for justice about war crime, even we don't know any statistics about war crime.
>
> I think it's simply a political agenda rather than a national issue.
>
> These just divide us and stop progressing towards a happy BD.
>
>
> With regards,
>
> Mohammad Ahsanul Haque
> Lecturer (on study leave), Dept. of CCE,
> International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh.
> &
> Integrated MS and PhD Student, University of Ulsan, South Korea.
>
> Cell: +88-018-17750871 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +88-018-17750871      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (in BD), +82-10-8687-0871 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +82-10-8687-0871      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
>
> E-mail: ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com (General)
>        iamahsanul@gmail.com (Academic)
>
>
> Reply 2
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Sayed, Hares (DRES)" <Hares.Sayed@dc.gov>
> Date: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:09 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Not 30,000 , it could be 300,000 at least but not definitely 3 million. I believe.
>
> Actual number of death will never be known. When Mujib was absent and out of Bangladesh during our  liberation war, he cannot confidently report about the deaths during our liberation war. We should not count Razakars, Biharis killed during our liberation war.
>
>
> Reply 3
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:44 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I feel pity to see some fellow Bangladeshis are questioning on the number of deaths occured during the 9-month-long bloody fight with the West Pakistan military. If the deaths were 30,000 I won't hate Pakis less than what I do now. They did all the brutalities on us. I doubt about the people who raised questions on the number of deaths. I beleive the debate is politically motivated and anti-liberation forces are behind it.
>
> sajjad
>
>
> Reply 4
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Bulbul Ahmed Bulu <bulucseku@yahoo.com>
> Date: Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:57 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Mr. Sazzadur Rahman,
> Are you Pakistani or Bangladeshi. If Pakistani then I think you will find some logic in what you are believing. if not I think i can provide you some evidence.
>
>
> Reply 5
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: "S A Hannan" <sahannan@sonarbangladesh.com>
> Date: Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:48 pm
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis--survey must even now for true unfolding of history
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Sheikh sahib failed to conduct a survey of number of persons killed in 71 and early 72 ( freedom fighters, just innocent people, Biharis and Razakars).It should be done even now by employing non-political un biased people. Without that all figures will remain guess work.
>
> Shah Abdul Hannan
>
>
> Reply 6
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Mohammad Maniruzzaman <maniruz@gmail.com>
> Date: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:46 am
> Subject: Re: [bdresearchers] RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I do believe that it was simply a slip of tongue. Mujib had no intention to provide wrong information. Therefore I would not blame our leader. Rather I would like to say that it is the responsibility of our historians to bring truths to light and would appeal to our politicians to refrain from doing more politics on it.
>
> Manir
>
> Previous Messages
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Sayed, Hares (DRES)" <Hares.Sayed@dc.gov>
> Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 12:34:01 AM
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
>
>
> 30,000 only? Very surprising. I believe Dr. Rahman was out of the country during the Liberation war of Bangladesh.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Hares Sayed
>
>
>
>
>
> Preventing terrorism is everybodyx2019;s business.
>
> If you SEE something, SAY something.
>
> Call the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (202) 727-9099      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email at SAR@DC.GOV to report suspicious activity or behavior that has already occurred.
>
> Call 911 to report in-progress threats or emergencies.
>
>
>
> To learn more, visit http://www.mpdc.dc.gov/operationtipp.
>
>
>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 12:03 PM
> Subject: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
>
>
>
>
> Messages List
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Dr. Sazzadur Rahman, Re: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> 2. Sayed, Hares (DRES), RE: Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
> Reply 1
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: Sazzadur Rahman <sr_tusar@yahoo.com>
> Date: Wed Jun 1, 2011 7:05 am
> Subject: Re:Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Isa Khan,
>
> Thanks a lot for this post.
>
> Actually I never believe that even 3 lack were killed. Basically 3 lack was just an estimation from invalidated sources. I will be surprised even the exact figure will be up to 30000.
>
> Anyway, our media never publish the statement of Serajur Rahman, because our media never publishes true scenario.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dr Sazzadur Rahman
> Scotland
>
> Reply 2
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Sayed, Hares (DRES)" <Hares.Sayed@dc.gov>
> Date: Wed Jun 1, 2011 9:03 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yes, Mr. Rahman might be there, but his assertion, ?Apparently he arrived in London under the impression that East Pakistanis had been granted the full regional autonomy for which he had been campaigning? is completely wrong. Mujib gave up the option of autonomy after the general election. He demanded full independence of Bangladesh. Please visit literatures and also Mujib?s speech on March 7, 1970. One good source is ?The Last Days of United Pakistan? by Dr. GW Chowdhury.
>
> Regards
>
> Preventing terrorism is everybody's business.
>
> If you SEE something, SAY something.
> Call the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (202) 727-9099      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email at SAR@DC.GOV to report suspicious activity or behavior that has already occurred.
> Call 911 to report in-progress threats or emergencies.
> To learn more, visit http://www.mpdc.dc.gov/operationtipp.
>
> Original Message
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
> Sent: Wed, May 25, 2011 3:37:11 AM
> Subject: [bdresearchers] Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
> Mujib's confusion on Bangladeshi deaths
>
> The Guardian, Tuesday 24 May 2011
>
> Ian Jack (21 May) mentions the controversy about death figures in Bangladesh's liberation war. On 8 January 1972 I was the first Bangladeshi to meet independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after his release from Pakistan. He was brought from Heathrow to Claridge's by the Indian high commissioner Apa Bhai Panth, and I arrived there almost immediately.
>
> Mujib was puzzled to be addressed as "your excellency" by Mr Panth. He was surprised, almost shocked, when I explained to him that Bangladesh had been liberated and he was elected president in his absence. Apparently he arrived in London under the impression that East Pakistanis had been granted the full regional autonomy for which he had been campaigning. During the day I and others gave him the full picture of the war. I explained that no accurate figure of the casualties was available but our estimate, based on information from various sources, was that up to "three lakh" (300,000) died in the conflict.
>
> To my surprise and horror he told David Frost later that "three millions of my people" were killed by the Pakistanis. Whether he mistranslated "lakh" as "million" or his confused state of mind was responsible I don't know, but many Bangladeshis still believe a figure of three million is unrealistic and incredible.
>
> Serajur Rahman
>
> Retired deputy head, BBC Bengali Service
>
>
>
> From: bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of A.H. Nowsher Uddin
> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 10:59 AM
> Subject: [bdresearchers] RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
>
>
>
>
> Its is true that mujib made such an statement which was not based on any
> survey. No survey has yet addressed this concern. It was rough estimate. It
> is also said that it was his slip of tongue.......he meant three lacks.
>
> However, this is not acceptable to take opportunity to blame Mujib for such
> mistakes. His statement was not a criminal offence. Such mistake are natural
> for politicians, who often exaggerates facts, commits people of making a
> bridge even where there is no river ! Mujibs statement did not generate any
> economic gain. He did not kill people. It was Pakistanis and Rajakars who
> killed people. And most people were killed in areas adjacent to Indian
> boarder. So there are many villages without a single killing and there are
> villages with hundreds of killings. I think the number is not only three
> lack but more!
>
> Nowsher
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 10:19 AM
> Subject: [bdresearchers] 2 replies: Book, film greeted with fury among
> Bengalis
>
> Messages List
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Dr. A. R. M. Ruhul Amin, RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> 2. Feroz Kabir, RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
> Reply 1
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: "A.R.M. Ruhul Amin" <aruhul@yahoo.com>
> Date: Wed Jun 1, 2011 6:39 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear All,
>
> Our Govt. is good for nothing and political parties are always try to get
> credit of their own and humiliate the opposition. Just a very simple
> equation to trust Sk. Mujib's comments on the number of Bangladeshi's killed
> in 1971. What was the population of BD in our first census? 7.5 crore.
> Divide this no. with 30 lakh. It is 25 meaning that 1 in every 25 people
> were killed. Go to your own village or nearby village. Ask the old people
> there that how many people were killed in your village by Rajakar and
> Pakistani Army. You will get the answer if you could survey 10 villages.
>
> Thanks.
>
> ********************************************
> A. R. M. Ruhul Amin, PhD
> Instructor
> Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology
> Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
> School of Medicine
> 1365-C Clifton Road, Suite# 3074
> Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
> Phone: (404)-778-5691 (O))
>
> Reply 2
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: Feroz kabir <feroz_kabir@hotmail.com>
> Date: Wed Jun 1, 2011 9:18 pm
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> In World War II, the total casualties in Japan was about 2 millions
> including the deaths caused by 2 nuclear bombs.
>
> Previous Messages
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 11:08:20 +0600
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
> Hi,
>
> It is nice to know the fact. But we have to very much careful about the
> people who often tells we are confused about the number. This element is
> very strong and often writes in the media raising issues which has already
> been solved. This element did not want Bangladesh get free from Pakistan.
> Please be aware of them who are claiming now for proper investigation. They
> have only objective to confuse people with the distortion of the fact.
>
> On Behalf Of Shamsul Arefin
> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
> Yes, I think there should be well structured survey to find out the actual
> figure. But the situation in BD is such that if anyone shows his doubt about
> the figure some people just treat them as Rajakar which is quite
> unfortunate. No one wants to depend the claim with proper information.
>
> We need proper documentation about this fact so that someone can not rise
> any question in this regard. This is necessary for our future generation.
> Because if we do not have any document we can not depend the fact in near
> future. Researchers around the world those are interested in War 1971 will
> definitely rely on documents not on political comments and figures.
>
> I think we all have to realize the fact.
>
> Regards
>
> Mohammad Shamsul Arefin
>
> PhD Student
>
> Hiroshima University, Japan
>
> --- On Fri, 5/13/11, bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subject: [bdresearchers] 4 replies: Book, film greeted with fury among
> Bengalis
> Date: Friday, May 13, 2011, 11:26 PM
>
> Messages List
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> 1. Dr. Sazzadur Rahman, Re: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> 2. M. Azizur Rahman, RE: Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> 3. Ahsanul Haque, about the mail: Book, film greeted with fury among
> Bengalis
> 4. Prof. Abdullah A Dewan, RE: Book, film greeted with fury among
> Bengalis
>
> Reply 1
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: Sazzadur Rahman <sr_tusar@yahoo.com>
> Date: Fri May 13, 2011 5:35 am
> Subject: Re: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> This is very good question regarding killing of 3 million people.
>
> Nobody knows how this figure was determined. When Sk Mujib returned from
> Pakistan, he announced that 3 million people were killed. How did he count?
> How did Govt count the number of killing? Which method did they follow to
> count this number? Some says that Mujib thought the 'million' was English
> word of 'lack'.
> There is not official record that any census or counting was carried out
> through the whole country to determine the number of killings and raped
> women.
>
> I can say about my Thana. I heard from local old people that only few
> people were killed in 1971 war, but after war some ex freedom fighters were
> killed by other ex freedom fighters.
>
> I do not think that there was any scientific survey of this 3 million
> counting.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dr Sazzadur Rahman
> Research Fellow
> Robert Gordon University
> Scotland
>
> Reply 2
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: azizur rahman <aziz_spring@yahoo.com>
> Date: Fri May 13, 2011 8:11 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thanks for such a timely question to know about the history of
> Bangladesh liberation war. This kind of question is not new, but has never
> been paid attention to answer based on objective facts and data. We have a
> Liberation War Ministry that should have explored and develop reports for
> the future generation. Unfortunatelt scientific research and practice for
> policy making has been in paper but never been established a culture of
> democracy and good governance. I wish Bangladesh will move towards that
> direction. Politicians will decide based on facts and research not just
> based on non-scientific personal and political agenda. It appears that we
> cannot establish such systems overnight, but that must bethought of by
> politicians, otherwise our true development would not be sustainable.
>
> ..................................................
> M. Azizur Rahman
> PhD Student
> Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa
> Office: Institute for the Prevention of Crime(IPC)
> Room 306, 30 Stewart Street
> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5
> Tel.: 613-562-5800 X 2368 (Office)
> 613-733-6436 (Home)
> 613-252-5719 (Cell)
> Skype: aziz_ica
> Twitter: aziz_ica
>
> Reply 3
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: Ahsanul Haque <ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com>
> Date: Fri May 13, 2011 11:26 pm
> Subject: about the mail: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury
> among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Salam.
> (Dear Dr. Sazzad & Mr. Isha:)
> This is the reason why I am confused about our beloved Bangladesh
> history. In Mr. Isha's article some references of Bose's book were made and
> claimed as contradictory with true history (by the words of some persons).
> But-
> 1. how this is contradictory,
>
> 2. why contradictory,
>
> 3. why no survey hasn't made by BD govt.,
>
> 4. why BD govt. (especially Awami League (BAL) govt.) always patronizing
> non-scrutinized information about our liberation war,
>
> 5. and using these information they are trying to suppress opposition
> political parties (especially Islamic organizations)?
>
> 6. Finally, why we can write to criticize Bose but not to criticize our
> govt. efforts about our history and misguiding our nation?
>
> I am sorry if I hurt anybody, however this is the group of bdresearchers
> who will lead BD. So I will be happy and grateful if I get answer (by not
> bypassing actual motive). I just a learner of this group.
>
> With regards,
>
> Mohammad Ahsanul Haque
> Lecturer (on study leave), Dept. of CCE,
> International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh.
> &
> Integrated MS and PhD Student, University of Ulsan, South Korea.
>
> E-mail: ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com (General)
>
> Reply 4
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> From: "Ad Ewan" <adewan@emich.edu>
> Date: Fri May 13, 2011 5:35 am
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Threse are made up.
>
> Previous Messages
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> --- On Mon, 5/9/11, Ahsanul Haque <ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Ahsanul Haque <ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com>
> Subject: RE: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
> Received: Monday, May 9, 2011, 8:07 AM
>
> "Bangladesh's official history says nearly three million Bengalis -
> Hindus, Muslims and Christians - died in the 1971 civil war, and nearly half
> a million women were raped".
>
> I feel proud as a citizen of Bangladesh and our liberation war. However,
> after 40 years of our liberation, I just want to be cleared about one thing-
> "How the above mentioned official history of our beloved Bangladesh is
> determined?". Is it based on any survey or only speeches of some
> politicians?
>
> If anybody give rational answer, I will be grateful to him.
>
> With regards,
>
> Mohammad Ahsanul Haque
> Lecturer (on study leave), Dept. of CCE,
> International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh.
> &
> Integrated MS and PhD Student, University of Ulsan, South Korea.
> E-mail: ahsanul_bd@yahoo.com (General)
>
> From: Isha Khan <bdmailer@gmail.com>
> Sent: Sun, May 1, 2011 11:24:04 AM
> Subject: [bdresearchers] Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
> Book, film greeted with fury among Bengalis
>
> A recent film and book has caused outrage among Bengalis, due to their
> downplaying of atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during East
> Pakistan's struggle for independence in 1971 [GALLO/GETTY]
> A new book and film recently released downplaying Pakistani atrocities
> in Bangladesh have caused outrage among Bengalis.
>
> Two Bengali women - one from India, the other from Bangladesh - are now
> embroiled in a fierce controversy across the two countries for writing a
> book and producing a film that has upset Bengali nationalists and Indian
> officials, but given some cause of relief to the Pakistani military.
>
> Dead Reckoning, written by Indian researcher Sarmila Bose, questions the
> historical narratives of the 1971 civil war that broke up Pakistan, but
> Bengali nationalist groups describe her as "an apologist for Pakistan's
> brutal military".
>
> Meherjaan, directed by Bangladeshi film-maker Rubaiyat Hossain, is about
> the love of a Bengali woman for a Pakistani Baloch soldier in the backdrop
> of the 1971 war - but feminist groups in Bangladesh allege that the film
> "distorts the historical context of the liberation war".
>
> Challenging narratives
>
> Both the book and the film have hit the market at a time when
> Bangladesh's Awami League-led government has set up special tribunals for
> trying the "war criminals" of 1971.
>
> The Awami League led Bangladesh's struggle for secession from Pakistan
> after the Pakistani military regime refused to hand over power to it even
> after it won a majority in Pakistan national assembly elections in 1970.
>
> Shamsul Arefin, a war crimes trial official, told this writer that
> though Bengalis who collaborated with the Pakistan army are the ones to be
> actually tried, names of Pakistani soldiers and officers are likely to crop
> up with regard to massacres, mass rapes and arson during the trial.
>
> "That will expose the real character of the Pakistani army which is now
> seen in the West as a key ally in the war against terror. So Pakistan's
> intelligence is desperate to scuttle the war crimes trials in Bangladesh,"
> says Arefin, who served in the Pakistan army, then joined the Bengali Mukti
> Fauj (Freedom Force) during the civil war and finally served in the
> Bangladesh army.
>
> "We have reasons to believe that there is a concerted campaign by
> Pakistani intelligence to disrupt and dilute our War Crimes Trial. I will
> not be surprised if they are commissioning projects to distort the realities
> of our liberation war," Arefin told this writer.
>
> That's a rather strong charge but Sarmila Bose promptly dismisses."I am
> only trying to question the existing narratives of the 1971 war in view of
> data I have gathered while working for the book," Sarmila Bose told the
> audience at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in US, where the book was launched.The
> entire book launch programme is available on the Internet.
>
> Suspect data
>
> Bose, a Bengali herself, is a grand daughter of India's independence war
> hero Subhas Chandra Bose, and is a senior research fellow at Oxford.Her
> brothers, Sugato and Sumantra Bose, teach history and politics at Harvard
> and London School of Economics.
>
> "I am only pointing to obvious exaggerations about the number of people
> killed or number of women raped by the Pakistan army. A war narrative is
> always the narrative of the victors, and 1971 was no different," Sarmila
> Bose said at the launch.
>
> But some of her data is clearly suspect.Dead Reckoning suggests there
> were only 20,000 Pakistani troops at the beginning of the civil war in East
> Pakistan, and that rose to 34,000 towards the end of the war.
>
> "Bangladeshi narratives claim 400,000 women were raped by Pakistani
> troops during the civil war between March and December 1971, but how can
> 34,000 soldiers rape so many women in eight months," contends Sarmila Bose.
>
> Indian historian Jayanta Ray, whose 1968 book Nationalism on Trial
> predicted the breakup of Pakistan, is furious at how an Oxford researcher
> like Bose could get basic facts wrong.
>
> "Records indicate that just over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered
> to the Indian army in December 1971. They were all handed back to Pakistan.
> That's thrice the number Bose suggests, so is she fudging figures
> deliberately to prove that the number of rapes were much lower than
> suggested?" Professor Ray told this writer.
>
> Bangladesh's anti-fundamentalist campaigner Shahriyar Kabir says that
> Red Cross officials in 1971 testified to treating nearly 200,000 rape
> victims."Many more women did not report for treatment out of shame and
> embarrassment," Kabir told this writer. "They bore their indignities
> silently."
>
> A Calcutta-based Bengali channel, Mahua TV, ran a full hour discussion
> on the book, bringing together Bengalis from India and Bangladesh last
> Sunday.Hundreds of listeners from both sides of the border called in to join
> the author-bashing.The channel's executive editor, Subir Chakroborty, says
> Sarmila Bose's mother, Krishna Bose, a former member of Indian parliament,
> refused to join the panel."She told us her views on the liberation war were
> already known to everybody, so we put up in front of our cameras her
> newspaper article on the Bangladesh war. That was very sympathetic to the
> victims of 1971," Chakroborty said.
>
> Allegations of bias
>
> While Bangladeshis and Indian Bengalis are upset with Bose for "playing
> down the Pakistani atrocities", Indian officials are angry with her
> contention that "India was the only aggressor in 1971"."We intervened
> militarily only after all possibilities of stopping the bloodbath failed.
> And when our forces entered East Pakistan, the Bengalis complained why we
> have been so late," says former chief of India's eastern fleet, Vice-Admiral
> Bimalendu Guha.
>
> "How can she call us an aggressor," fumes Guha. "The Bengalis actually
> wanted us to intervene earlier to save themselves."
>
> Former chief-of-staff of India's eastern army, Lieutenant General J.R.
> Mukherjee, goes a step further, who said:
> She has very good reasons to defend the honour of the Pakistan army,
> which she describes as a professional and a brave force. Can I ask her why
> these brave soldiers surrendered to India in such a huge number? Even now,
> Pakistani troops keep surrendering to Taliban and other militants. Can you
> show one Indian soldier who has ever surrendered to a militant?
>
> Professor Ray alleges that Bose is biased in use of sources."Her sources
> are primarily Pakistani. She has interviewed many Pakistani officers, but
> not those who were fighting them," says Professor Ray.
>
> Particularly upset with Sarmila Bose are Bangladesh's vast numbers of
> "freedom fighters" - men from various walks of life who joined the "Mukti
> Fauj" to fight the Pakistanis in 1971.
>
> "How can a Bengali, and that too from the family of one of our greatest
> leader like Subhas Bose, write such a horrible account that tries to defend
> Pakistan's brutal army. This is simply unacceptable," said Haroon Habib, a
> "freedom fighter" who later rose to head the country's government-sponsored
> news agency, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).No bookseller has so far put
> Dead Reckoning on their shelves in Bangladesh.Even in Calcutta and other
> Bengali-dominated cities in India, the book is not to be seen.
>
> "Bengalis across the border will only have hate for her," says Bimal
> Pramanik, a "freedom fighter" who now lives in India and runs a centre for
> research on India-Bangladesh relations. "She is untruthful and with a
> purpose."Sarmila Bose denies all charges flung at her and says she has only
> "tried to correct the course of contemporary history". A claim few will
> endorse in Bangladesh or Indian Bengal.
>
> Stereotypes versus truth
>
> Rubaiyat Hossain's Meherjaan is innocuous by comparison, but it has
> generated as much angst in a country which prides its Bengali heritage and
> where the atrocities of the Pakistan army is still recent memory.
>
> Bangladesh's official history says nearly three million Bengalis -
> Hindus, Muslims and Christians - died in the 1971 civil war, and nearly half
> a million women were raped.
>
> "I liked the movie, but since I am a freedom fighter and scores of my
> friends disliked the film, I decided to withdraw it from cinema halls in
> Bangladesh," says Habibur Rehman Khan, the distributor of Meherjaan.That
> means the film will make no money, despite a a cast of stars from India,
> like Jaya Bachan and Victor Banerji - both Bengalis, but big in Bollywood.
>
> Bangladeshi feminist groups say the film trivialises the atrocities on
> women by the Pakistani army when it runs the story of Meher, a Bengali girl
> who falls in love with a Pakistani soldier, and is then humiliated by her
> family when this is discovered."I was raped several times by Pakistani
> soldiers, and I cannot stand this soft corner for Pakistanis in the film,"
> said sculptor Ferdous Priyabashini.
>
> Rubaiyat Hossain is candid about her woes."I tried to break out of the
> stereotype of the Bengali hero versus Pakistani brute in the backdrop of the
> 1971 war, and that is what my countrymen are so upset with," she said.
>
> "What she thinks is stereotype is actually the truth. The Pakistanis
> killed us like flies and raped our women like beasts. They even massacred
> our intellectuals just before they surrendered," said Awami League's
> minister Jehangir Kabir Nanak.Unlike Japan or Germany apologising for their
> military excesses during the Second World War, Pakistan has not apologised
> for the atrocities of its army in 1971.
>
> Many liberal Pakistanis, including cricket hero Imran Khan, want
> Islamabad to do so and bury the bad blood of 1971.But the Pakistan army top
> brass refuses to oblige.Until that happens, neither Dead Reckoning nor
> Meherjaan will find admirers in Bangladesh - or in Indian Bengal.
>
> ml
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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