Recognition of genocide crucial for justice: speakers

Experts called for the recognition of the genocide carried out by Pakistan during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 in a seminar yesterday.

"Recognising the genocide is crucial in raising awareness about the atrocities faced by the people of the country, ensuring justice to the victims, punishing the perpetrators, and preventing the occurrence of such genocides in the future," said Dutch politician and rights activist Hary Van Bommel.

The seminar, titled "International Conference on Bangladesh Genocide Recognition", was jointly organised by Aamra Ekattor, European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) and Projonmo 71 at Dhaka University.

Bommel also said they have engaged with the family members of the 1971 genocide victims, freedom fighters, witnesses, and genocide researchers to gather accounts. They will also advocate for the recognition of the genocide in their respective countries, he mentioned.

Bommel urged the people of Bangladesh to work together on this issue.

We have engaged with the family members of the 1971 genocide victims, freedom fighters, witnesses, and genocide researchers to gather accounts. We will also advocate for the recognition of the genocide in their respective countries.

— Hary Van Bommel Dutch politician and rights activist

War crime researcher Shahriar Kabir stressed the need to convince western countries that acknowledging genocides, whether in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, or elsewhere, is crucial for socio-economic development and global peace.

He also criticised these countries for harbouring the collaborators of the Bangladesh genocide.

DU Vice Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman expressed his wholehearted support on behalf of the Dhaka University administration and assured cooperation in pursuing the recognition for the genocide.

Tawheed Reza Noor, genocide researcher and founding secretary of Projonmo 71, emphasised the importance of acknowledging historical injustices in all countries.

Retired Lt Col Sazzad Jahir, a Bir Protik Gallantry awardee, described Pakistan as a genocidal state and called for national admission of its war crimes, a formal international apology, compensation for victims' families, and the return of wealth taken from Bangladesh during the war.

Mofidul Haq, trustee of the Liberation War Museum, stressed the need for global diaspora collaboration and research to intensify the demand for recognition.

Presided over by Mahbub Zaman, chairperson of Aamra Ekattor, the event was addressed by Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karjon, director of Centre for Genocide Studies at DU; Chris Blackburn, communications director at Swiss Inter-strategy Group based in Zurich; Prof Anthonie Holslag of Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam; Julian Francis, human rights activist; Harun Habib, secretary general of Sector Commanders Forum; Bikash Chowdhury Barua, president of EBF in Netherlands; and Ansar Ahmed Ullah, co-president of EBF in the UK, among others.