Liberation War 1971
A timeless image
A boy, barely out of childhood, holds a grenade in his hand. His gaze, although defiant, also holds a flicker of innocence, a boyish vulnerability peeking through the steely resolve. Flanking him on either side stand two older teenagers, rifles aimed towards the enemy.
REFLECTIONS / Byting wisely: The varying narratives of nationalism and independence
So in the spirit of Independence, I urge my reader to exercise independence of consumption—to question what you are buying, what you are reading, what you are watching, and which of these you are really given the freedom to choose.
Echoes of 1971: A journey through memories
Over the last four decades, commemorative writings about the liberation war have established themselves as a separate genre of writing in the literary scene in Bangladesh.
Two Martyred Pandits: Sharada & Annada Charan
In the wake of the ‘Mountbatten Plan’ on June 3, 1947, which set the date of independence for August 14 of the same year, British India was slated to be divided into two dominions: Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
Rao Farman Ali and 1971
We were returning via Fazlul Haque Avenue. Islamabad had three roads named after A.K. Fazlul Haque, Khwaja Nazimuddin, and Suhrawardy.
Defiance and Dilemmas / Administrative dynamics in 1971’s War of Liberation
The War of Liberation in 1971 commenced late on the night of March 25th, as the Pakistani army initiated a genocidal campaign from all its cantonments, aiming to seize control of cities amidst the growing resistance movement.
Australia’s Response to the 1971 Refugee Crisis
The Daily Star (TDS): What sparked your interest in researching the events of 1971 in Bangladesh, particularly the connection to Australia, which had largely remained obscure before your investigation?
The untold story of Jashore’s resistance during the Liberation War
The Daily Star (TDS): What was the situation like on the eve of the 1971 war?
Chronicling Bangladesh’s birth: Tumultuous 1960s
In the early 1960s, another covert group codenamed “Nucleus” emerged in the scene to further the cause of an independent Bangladesh alongside the Inner Group, East Bengal Liberation Front, and Apurba Sangsad.
Chuknagar: A shocking savagery
It was around 11:00am on May 20, 1971.
When the message of Bangladesh’s liberation travelled on two wheels
Jamal Hasan and his three teammates decided to go on a goodwill mission for the fledgling state to thank the people of the world for supporting their Liberation War.
Motherhood, martyrdom and the spirit of female resistance in 1971
Ekattorer Dinguli forces one to acknowledge the dire reality of ethnic and religious violence, and the harsh legacy of colonial oppression and divide that has ruptured the fabric of the South Asian subcontinent since 1947.
War in the waters: Looking back at Operation Jackpot, 1971
Operation Jackpot was the first—and allegedly best—campaign of naval commandos during the Liberation War of 1971, a deadly blow against the Pakistani invasion forces carried out on August 16, 1971.
Faiza Ahmed’s tribute to independence through fashion
Having been involved in the creative field for almost 15 years, Faiza Ahmed decided to explore the Fashion sector in the late 2012. Throughout her journey, she realised that fashion for many youngsters still means getting inspiration from the west. An avid fan of classical and folk music, she wanted to make a change and create designs that resemble the true beauty of art and heritage. Thus, she started experimenting with designs inspired by the popular trends, with a deshi touch.
Our struggle for freedom is not done yet
I am here not to refute any of these stances but to ask readers to think deeply about why people got so uncomfortable seeing such a photo/heading like this.
You said
Notun Bazar was burning, burning! /Shops, stores, woodpiles/ Piled up iron, timber, mosques and temples/ Notun Bazar was burning, burning!
Rights activists slam US report’s claims about Jamaat
Anti war crimes campaigners and rights activists have criticised the latest US human rights report on Bangladesh that advocated for the "freedom of assembly" of Jamaat-e-Islami – which strongly opposed the independence of Bangladesh and with the Pakistan army committed crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Bangabandhu through the eyes of Japanese filmmaker, Nagisa Oshima
The Japanese film director, Nagisa Oshima is a glaring exception. Primarily known for his New Wave style of filmmaking, in many cases, Nagisa Oshima has brought up rebellious and underprivileged youths in his films. Compared to the usual subject matters of his films, it is interesting to see that his two documentaries focusing on Bangladesh, Joi Bangla (1972) and Rahman: Father of Bengal (1973), are different. He finds the intense glory of Bangladesh's achievements in the context of 1972-73 even when the country was in a war-torn condition following the war in his film Rahman: Father of Bengal.
War and peace and poetry and poets
How can you talk about peace without taking into account war? Both are subjects not only of Tolstoy’s great novel but also of the two founding epic poems of Greek as well as Indian literature.
