Re: [mukto-mona] Bangladesh Wins Freedom

Hindus under the leadership of Jogen Mandal also made East Pakistan.  Without him that was impossible too.

On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 3:34 AM, Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

I have more agreement than disagreement with Mr. Matiur Rahman here. But let me make some comments on his points.

 

To call Mujib 'agitated a lot against the Pakistani regime' would be an injustice to the history of Bangladesh . An honest history of Bangladesh should read, "Mujib fought for the rights of the Bangalees within the framework of Pakistan ." 'Fear of his (Mujib's) leadership' to soft sell the crackdown by the Pakistani rulers would be an insult to the legitimate movements for the rights of the Bangalees, which ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh .

 

Zia was not much greater a freedom fighter than most of the other sector commanders. It is a falsification of history to call him the first rebel. In reality, he was on his way to unload ammunitions that would kill the Bangalees, but he was alerted that he might be killed after he had done his service to Pakistan by unloading the ammunitions. He was an opportunistic, not a pre-committed, announcer of the independence of Bangladesh .

 

USA had an intention of helping the Pakistanis, thus hindering/stopping the independence of Bangladesh . It could not do what it wanted because of the India-USSR friendship treaty.

 

Without the Indian help, Bangladesh independence would have probably never happened. With all due respect for their passion, courage and sacrifice, the freedom fighters were no match to the Pakistani military. Moreover, the local collaborators to the Pakistanis were a formidable force that had a substantial public support.

 

Without Pakistan in 1947 there would be no Bangladesh in 1971; very true. But that is similar to a child that was born because of a rape giving credit to his rapist father. Without the rape, would that child be ever born? Certainly not that child; the one with genes from a raped mother and a raping father.

 

Talking about the Hindus of East Bengal, true they did not participate in large number in the freedom fight for Bangladesh . But without them being a huge burden on India , that country could not justify intervening in East Bengal , at last not to the extent it did and at the time it did.

 

The greater point of how the Hindus should be looked at by an honorable Bangladesh is this: they were victims of hate crimes by the Pakistani military. To me, hate crime by a state military against unarmed innocent civilians is a more serious crime than cruel torture on warriors. I think punishing or not punishing the hate criminals and war criminals really shows the character of a nation. While a freedom fighter that died in battle should be honored/saluted, the opponent that killed him can not necessarily be called a criminal. The way I see it, a nation's character is more revealed by how it treats its innocent people than by how it treats its heroes.

 

Sukhamaya Bain

From: Matiur Rahman <matiur1965@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 1:12 AM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Bangladesh Wins Freedom

WHO CAUSED LIBERATION OF BANGLADESH

a. Sheikh Mujib: He agitated a lot against the Pakistani regime but till his surrender in the midnight of 25 March1971, he was negotiating for and was hopeful of becoming Prime Minister of Pakistan. His role in forming 'independent' Bangladesh is apparently minimal. Neither he declared independence, nor did he give any leadership during the fight for liberation.  Admittedly, it is fear of his leadership that led Pakistani rulers to crack down on East Pakistan (that caused the liberation of Bangladesh). 

b. Zia: He was a great freedom fighter, one of the successful battle field leaders. He is unparalleled as he was the first to rebel and fight back Pakistani army. He is unparalleled because it him who declared independence of Bangladesh on 27 March 1971 when the nation was totally confused in absence of any guidance from Sheikh Mujib, or any other national leader like Bhashani, Awami League or any other party. However, as far as causation of liberation of Bangladesh is to be addressed, his role is limited to his declaration of independence from 27 March to 1 April 1971.

c. Yahha Khan: Played a major role (in causing liberation of Bangladesh) by deciding to crack down on East Pakistan. His role was indeed a decisive factor. If he had allowed Sheik Mujib to form government of Pakistan, following Dec1970 election,  as he promised in February and early March 1971, there would be no independent Bangladesh today. 

d. Mr Bhutto: Played a major role by obstinately  resisting election of Sheikh Mujib as the Prime Minister of Pakistan after victory of Awami League in the Election of1970. If he agreed, Shekh would form the government of Pakistan and the hope of liberating Bangladesh, if any one had, would not ever see light.

e. USA: USA's role is not clear in my assessment. It helped by not helping Pakistani Regime in November, December. Its 7th fleet could do havoc; did nothing.

f. USSR: Its support was important.

g. India: People of East Pakistan would not be able to fight for liberation in a successful way if India did not give them shelter and arms. The air assault of December 1971 was smart enough to compel the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan to decide to wrap up and surrender. Otherwise the people of East Pakistan would have to struggle longer. Fighting was continuing near Khulna till the afternoon of 17 December. On the other hand, without the help of Indian forces, Quader Siddiqui was very near  to Dhaka with his capable Bahini. Indian support all in all was vital. 

h.Mrs Indira Gandhi: Her decision to help people of Bangladesh was critically important Her decision to help people of East Pakistan in their fight against Pakistani regime was bold and crucially important. 

i. West Pakistanis: Not any significant role. (Honestly, I am not sure, got  to research)

j. Freedom Fighters:  It is their selfless, fearless spirit that led to the establishment of independent Bangladesh.They started with revenging the killing of their father or mother, sister or brother, of friends and relatives in the hands of Pakistanis.  However, gradually it transformed into the fight against an 'occupation army'. They dreamed of liberating East Pakistan from Pakistani occupation. They succeeded at the cost of their lives.

k. Bengali language: A role may be traced back to 1952, that's it. In 1971, language movement was only a referral point without much 'conspicuous' significance.

l. Mohajirs: Am not aware of any significant role in 'causing' liberation of Bangladesh. They suffered huge causality in the month of (end) March to (early) May 1971 just because they spoke Urdu like the Pakistanis. Their complicity with Pakistani Army in 1971 played no significant role in establishing independent Bangladesh. .

m. Bengali Hindus: Count of Bengali Hindus among the freedom fighters was unfortunately very very low. However, a majority proportion of Indian people who gave shelter to people of Bangladesh were Bengali Hindus of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Asam and Tripua.

n. Bengali Muslims: (i) Most of the freedom fighters were Bengali Muslims. (ii) Bangladesh would have remained today merely a state of India, like West Bengal, after partition in 1947, if Bengali Muslims did not demand a separate state. If East Pakistan was not born 1977, there would be no scope of liberating it and establishing independent Bangladesh in 1971.

o. Indian Army: Played a very vital role in training people of Bangladesh who wanted to fight against the armed forces of Pakistan. Their role in December was very significant. Otherwise war of liberation, that is fight against the Pakistani army would continue for a few more months.

q. Pakistani Army: Most significant role. It is because of their crackdown, killing, torture, arson, rape and destruction that the entire nation decided to cut off with Pakistan and go for an independent country.

r. Israel: Am not aware of any role.

s. CIA: Am not aware of any significant role.

t. KGB: Am not aware of any significant role.

u. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendar: Played a very VERY significant role since 27 March 1971 with declaration of independent Bangladesh from it Kalurghat Chittagong. For the first time, a dream of independent Bangladesh was floated in unequivocal terms. A message was created and passed on that people of Bangladesh have to fight for liberating their country occupied by Pakistani army.

v. Other factors: Awami League leaders of April of 1971: By forming a government of independent "Bangla Desh", they gave a shape to the idea of a "liberation of East Pakistan" that Sheikh Mujib did NOT do.

w. Other factors: Pakistan government of November1971: Half way through November, the then government of Pakistan decided to 'desert' East Pakistan; and this decision was critical. Though there was no declaration reinforcement was discontinued in the last week of November, and many parts of Bangladesh saw light of the day as an independent land in the first week of December as Pakistan army started to wind up; and move to Dhaka.