Photo exhibition in Agartala on 1971 genocide

A photo exhibition on “1971 Genocide and Torture” will be held in Tripura’s capital Agartala.

Tripura Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 March 2015, 10:25 AM
Updated : 23 March 2015, 03:32 PM

It will depict the untold stories of atrocities committed by Pakistan Army on innocent Bangladeshis during their Liberation War.

Professor of history at Dhaka University Dr Muntasir Mamun announced about the exhibition at a press conference at the Agartala Press Club on Monday.

Mamun is one of the brains behind Bangladesh Itihas Samiti (BIS), a voluntary organisation of historians to promote study of history.

“We feel that the Liberation War will remain incomplete and forgotten if the genocide carried out was not properly presented before everyone. Many of us avoided the issue of genocide and the international community very tactically evaded it.

"We were under the army rule for three decades after 1975. America, China, and Middle East supported the genocides organised by Pakistan. They never expected that Bengalis will win the war and after Bengalis were victorious, it is very natural that they did not allow raising the issue of genocide,” said Dr Mamun .

“Never in the history one will find another similar incident where so many people were murdered in such a small span of time. But it is not mentioned anywhere because if the issue of mass killing is raised then along with it questions will be raised as to who all were involved in it.... America, China and others names will then come out.”

He further added that the political situation in Bangladesh after its liberation in 1971, a majority of that period was under army rule, was not favourable for highlighting the real history of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Taking advantage of the situation, the pro-Pakistani section, who were against the liberation war, started distorting history in order to confuse the newer generation.

However, he was confident that if the photos of the genocide were exhibited before the newer generation, it would not only help in disseminating the actual facts before then but would also play a vital role in convincing them against the mass killing organised by Pakistan and the role of India in the liberation of Bangladesh.

“We could not bring all these forward because of our internal politics. Taking advantage of the situation the pro-Pakistani elements in Bangladesh are raising question on our Liberation War, genocide and on the relation with our friendly neighbour, India. At that time we feel that if the facts about the genocide can be clearly revealed before the present generation, many of whom are misled, or even the earlier generation they can realize the facts,” Dr Muntasir Mamun said.

He informed that a unique museum- cum archive on genocide and torture during Liberation War in 1971 has been setup in Khulna.

Dr Mamun was accompanied by contemporary artist Hashem Khan and Sheikh Baharul Khan, all members of 1971 Genocide-Torture Archive and Museum Trust, the principal organisers of the exhibition, at the press conference.

They informed that the three-day exhibition at the Rabindra Centenary hall would commence from Monday evening.

They hoped the exhibition would rekindle the past images of war and horror that happened four decades ago.