1971 genocide has to be documented

The genocide during the Liberation War of 1971 has to be documented, at last to recognise those people who sacrificed their lives for independence, Bernard-Henri Lévy, a French intellectual who covered the war then as a journalist, said yesterday.

"We, the friendly countries, will cooperate in this process, but you [Bangladesh government] will have to start it first. Those people's names have to be listed as martyrs," he added.

Lévy, also a prominent philosopher and writer, made the remarks at a public lecture organised by Liberation War Museum, in association with Alliance Française de Dhaka, at the museum auditorium in the capital.

The event was organised on the occasion of birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In his lecture, Lévy said the genocide, committed by the then Pakistan authority upon Bangladeshi people, has to be verified independently by other nations or international institutions.

"If the genocide is proved, it will be a very bad message for Pakistan and its [the then] allies," he added.

Replying to the queries whether he and his country would cooperate if Bangladesh seek recognition of the genocide, the Frenchman replied in the positive.

"I will cooperate as a witness and as an intellectual. If the perpetrators of Pakistan are brought to the court, I will testify there as a witness," Bernard-Henri Lévy remarked.

He recalled the contributions of Bangabandhu in Bangladesh attaining independence, and said Bangabandhu is an example of how a great leader needs to be.

French Ambassador to Dhaka Jean-Marin SCHUH, also spoke at the programme, alongside Liberation War Museum Trustee Mofidul Hoque and Sara Zaker, among others.