Int’l conference to recognise ‘Genocide-1971’ held at DU

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) on Monday organized an international conference on Recognition of Bangladesh Genocide’ at the Dhaka University Abdul Matin Chowdhury virtual auditorium.

It was addressed by the members of the visiting European fact finding delegation comprised of politicians, university teachers and senior researchers, political analysts and human rights activists.

Speaking at the conference the visiting European delegates, uuniversity teachers, researchers, cultural activists and community leaders expressed their firm determination to work relentlessly until the global recognition of the Genocide, committed by the Pakistani army in 1971, is achieved.

The conference was organised in collaboration with Amra Ekattor and Projonmo 71, both partner organisations of EBF.
Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr. Md. Aktaruzzaman attended the program as chief guest, while Chairperson of Amra Ekattor Mahboob Zaman, who is a freedom fighter presided over.

The conference was addressed among others by the head of the European delegation former Member of the Dutch Parliament Harry van Bommel, British political analyst Chris Blackburn, Prof Dr. Antonie Holslag of Amsterdam University, Chief coordinator of Amra Ekattor Hilal Fayazi, Bikash Chowdhury Barua an Ansar Ahmed Ullah, both from EBF. Besides, Secular Forum President Shahriar Kabir, Trustee of Liberation War Museum Mofidul Haq, genocide researcher Lieutenant colonel Birpratik Sazzad Zahir, freedom fighter and former chief of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Haroon Habib, Chairman Trustee Board 1971 Genocide Torture Archive and Museum, Dhaka Professor Muntasir Mamun, Director of Centre for Genocide Studies of Dhaka University Prof Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karjon, a British human rights activist who lives in Julian Francis and writer and member of a victim family Engineer Pradip Kumar Datta.

Tawheed Reza Noor, Genocide Researcher and founder secretary of projonmo 71 and a member of the victim family addressed meeting through zoom from US. It was moderated by a board member of Amra Ekattor Mrinal Sircar.

The conference got wide print and electronic media in Bangladesh, Netherlands and the UK. The hall was jampacked and there was no space room for the participants. Many participants were found standing at the entrance as there was no more vacant space in the auditorium. A good number of students were also seen among the participants.

Addressing the conference the leader of the European Fact Finding team former member of the Dutch parliament Harry van Bommel said, Bangladesh will get global recognition of the genocide that took place in Bangladesh in 1971.

He added, even if it took 100 years to get the global recognition of the Armenian genocide, I hope it will not take that long in case of Bangladesh genocide.

‘We want to have it within a few years, not even decades’ Harry said.

Addressing the meeting the Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof Dr Md Aktaruzzaman said, during the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the University of Dhaka was the epicentre of genocide and the students and teachers of the university were the first victims of genocide. Greeting the organisers and contributors of the conference, he sincerely pledged that the University of Dhaka will always stand with them and cooperate for achieving recognition of the 1971 genocide.

EBF leaders expressed firm determination to continue efforts to draw the attention of the world community about the genocide and to stand with the victims of atrocities conducted by the Pakistani army during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

Genocide researcher and founding secretary of Projonmo 71 Tawheed Reza Noor said Projonmo 71 is working to achieve recognition of the genocide and ensure justice.

According to the 1948 genocide conversation, genocide means destroying, harming and distorting a targeted group of people or community with a systematic plan. And the genocide conducted by Pakistani military forces during the Liberation War of Bangladesh was planned killings of Bengali people,’ said Pradip Kumar Dutta , a genocide researcher.

Earlier on 21 May there was a program titled ‘Meet the Press’ by the visiting European delegation at the national Press club at Dhaka. Chaired by the President of the club Farida Yasmin the program was addressed by the sitting MP Ms Aroma Datta as chief guest.

It was addressed among others by the leader of the visiting European delegation former member of the Dutch Parliament Harry van Bommel, genocide expert Prof Dr. Antonie Holslag, British political analyst Chris Blackburn, EBF leaders Bikash Chowdhury Barua and Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Chief coordinator of Amra Ekattor Hilal Fayazi. The program was chaired by the Chairperson of Amra Ekattor Mahboob Zaman.

It was jampacked hall with members of the press, both print and electronic as well as on line.