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Published : 29 Apr 2025, 09:54 AM
Julian Henry Francis, a British-born development and social worker who played a crucial role in helping refugees during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, says young people must embrace patience and kindness as essential qualities in shaping a just society.
Speaking ahead of his 80th birthday on a special episode of bdnews24.com’s interview programme “Inside Out”, Francis reflected on his life’s work and urged young Bangladeshis to remain connected to their roots while pursuing change.
Having lived and worked in Bangladesh for nearly half a century, Francis stressed that true development extends beyond economic growth to embrace compassion, inclusion, and a deep awareness of history.
He notes that today’s youth, though better educated, must remain connected to the struggles of the past and remain kind to those less fortunate.
“I have some young people who refer to me as Dadu (grandfather), and I’m trying to instil in them the importance of being patient and kind,” said Francis.
“There are others who may not have had the opportunity to go to school or such a good school as you are going to, but you should always be kind to people who are less fortunate.”
Despite ongoing uncertainties in politics and governance, Francis draws optimism from Bangladesh’s younger generation. A recent experience at Bangla Academy left a lasting impression, he says.
“I spoke to 250 young people about the Liberation War. They were respectful, intelligent, and asked sharp questions. That gave me a lot of hope,” he said.
Francis, who received the title of Friend of Bangladesh from the government and holds dual citizenship, has since dedicated himself to the country’s welfare through times of triumph and trial, earning enduring respect and lasting recognition.
His journey began when he volunteered with the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam), a British-founded international confederation of 21 independent NGOs, to assist refugees fleeing the 1971 conflict.
His humanitarian legacy has spanned decades, from organising emergency aid for war-torn refugees to championing the rights of the disadvantaged.
What began as a mission of service gradually transformed into a bond of belonging.
He fell in love with Bangladesh and has spent a third of his life here. He settled in the country, embraced its citizenship, and became a true Bangladeshi.
FRANCIS’S EARLY LIFE
Francis was born on Apr 29, 1945, in the United Kingdom’s Malvern. In the interview, he shared stories about his upbringing and family.
After completing his schooling in London, he went on to attend an agricultural college, where he studied Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
Among his siblings, his older sister settled in Australia while his younger sister pursued a career as a ballet dancer.
His older brother, who had Down’s syndrome, was another influence on his life and his personal interest in upholding the rights and care of people with disabilities.
“My elder son also has a learning disability,” said Francis. “So I have a lot of knowledge about disability, but no formal qualification — I’m qualified by experience.”
A LIFE SHAPED BY FAITH, FAMILY AND SERVICE
Francis’s early influences laid the foundation for a lifetime of humanitarian work.
He credits his mother and her family's missionary legacy with shaping his worldview. Generations of his maternal relatives served as Anglican clergy and missionaries across colonial territories — from Ethiopia to Sri Lanka and India.
Francis's involvement in social work began remarkably early.
At the age of nine, he participated in raising funds for Palestinian refugees, inspired by a family visit.
One of his mother's uncles, who had spent decades working in Africa, was visiting them in London in 1954 and expressed deep concern about the plight of Palestinian refugees.
At that time, Oxfam, still in its infancy, had launched initiatives to support Palestinians.
Encouraged by his mother, Francis washed the family car to earn five shillings, which he donated to Oxfam — marking his first step into a life of service.
On the issue of Palestine, he said: "It’s very sad to think of that situation then. And so many years later, it is a terrible situation."
It was, however, his mother, Ursula Matthews, who had the most significant impact on his path.
In 1966, as she lay in a hospital bed battling cancer, she suggested he consider volunteering in India.
The next morning, she passed away, making her words even more poignant.
He honoured her wish and travelled to the subcontinent with Oxfam, marking the beginning of a life-long relationship with South Asia.
HOW HE BECAME INVOLVED IN REFUGEE RELIEF
Francis began working on an Oxfam agricultural development project in Bihar in 1968.
Around March-April 1971, he and his colleagues began hearing of the unimaginable suffering as millions of Bengalis fled to India following Operation Searchlight.
Following an assessment of the situation along the border, Oxfam became involved in humanitarian relief efforts for the refugees. Francis was placed in charge of the project.
“We were asked to come to Calcutta and see what sort of big operation we could set up,” Francis said in his interview with Inside Out.
“The earliest memory is seeing hundreds just walking across the border, completely silent, shell-shocked, traumatised.”
Francis coordinated relief efforts at refugee camps across West Bengal, including areas like Bongaon and Gandhi Ashram.
Under his supervision, Oxfam supported nearly 600,000 refugees.
While the Indian government supplied basic food and shelter, Oxfam focused on supplementary nutrition for children, medical services, and — most critically — sanitation, which he described as a “nightmare”.
But their efforts extended beyond food and aid. Francis and his team felt a strong responsibility to ensure the plight of the refugees reached the global stage.
Still, the emotional toll of witnessing the refugee crisis left deep scars
"I saw things during those months that still haunt me, he said. “I saw thousands dying, children starving, mothers crying over dead babies. Even today, I find it hard to talk about."
He continues to suffer from recurring nightmares of that time. “Even many years later, if I speak about it in English - I get nightmares.”
“Always the same. A refugee baby, dead during the monsoon-- it always comes back in my sleep.”
Of the roughly 600,000 refugees he helped care for, Francis noted that about 60 percent were Hindu and 40 percent Muslim.
“I always remember 1971,” he said, underscoring how deeply those memories remain with him.
‘THE TESTIMONY OF THE SIXTY’
Francis helped mobilise international opinion against the atrocities in Bangladesh.
In an effort to keep the crisis on the global agenda, Francis and his team were instrumental in producing “The Testimony of the Sixty” — a landmark Oxfam publication that compiled witness accounts of the genocide and refugee crisis in Bengal at that time.
Contributors included US Senator Edward Kennedy, Mother Teresa, and war correspondents, many of whom compared the situation in Bengal to — or worse than — the Biafra War.
Released ahead of the UN General Assembly in October 1971, the report was entered into the US Congressional Record within a week, significantly influencing American policy and pushing for an arms embargo on Pakistan.
EUPHORIA OF INDEPENDENCE ‘FADED QUICKLY’
Francis vividly remembers the joy and celebration that swept through Bangladesh in the immediate aftermath of liberation when he visited Dhaka in January 1972.
But just months later, he said, the mood turned sombre as the harsh realities of post-war recovery began to set in.
“When we came in January 1972, of course, there was a lot of excitement and euphoria because Bangladesh was free,” Francis recalled in his interview with Inside Out. “But by March, the mood was changing because people realised… the situation was extremely grave.”
Infrastructure across the country had been devastated. Bridges and culverts were destroyed, ferries and launches sunk, and food shortages were looming.
Francis, along with other international aid workers, feared for the country’s future.
“The crisis only deepened in 1974, when Bangladesh faced a devastating famine — one that Francis described as “man-made,” he said.
“When Bangladesh exported jute to Cuba, the food supply was stopped. Then the US government got very angry. Kissinger halted a lot of supplies — wheat, in particular,” Francis added. “It was very bad politics.”
This shift in US policy made the work of humanitarian agencies like the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and Oxfam more difficult.
BANGLADESH HAS ‘MUCH MORE TO DO’
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s development over the past five decades, Francis acknowledged significant progress but emphasised that substantial challenges remain.
He highlighted disparities in wealth distribution and the need for improved governance. “The development has been remarkable. I usually tell people that it could have been more remarkable if there had not been confrontational politics. But that's a different story.”
Francis pointed out that while Bangladesh has made commendable strides in areas like maternal and child mortality, significant gaps persist between the rich and the poor.
“And the very rich people have not been paying their income tax, which could have transformed a lot of social issues if that had been done,” he said.
Regarding disaster response, Francis highlighted the vulnerability of the poorest populations during cyclones and other natural calamities.
He advocated for a more inclusive approach, saying: “The poorest, the most affected, should be protected.”
He also stressed the need for better engagement with marginalised communities, such as slum dwellers, to understand and address their specific challenges.
Reflecting on his personal healthcare experience in Bangladesh, Francis shared insights into the country’s medical system.
“There are many good doctors here. Aftercare is a problem; nursing care or aftercare,” he observed.
A BANGLADESHI BY HEART
Francis eventually became a citizen — not by design, but by recognition.
After decades of dedicated service, Francis was granted Bangladeshi citizenship — an honour that, he says, came not from his own request, but from the insistence of friends and colleagues who believed he deserved it.
He chose to remain in the country despite health risks and medical malpractice concerns, including a serious scare in 2022.
His younger son, a UK-based doctor, kept him informed during the COVID-19 crisis, but Francis never considered leaving.
HOLDING ON TO BANGLADESHI CULTURE, CUISINE
From hilsa to herbal medicine, he cherishes Bangladesh’s rich heritage.
Francis, a long-time admirer of Bengali cuisine, shares his culinary experiences. “I often say one of my favourite dishes is shorshe Ilish (hilsa with mustard)”.
However, he notes that eating the dish is best done with the hands to properly manage all the bones.
He fondly recalls his early exposure to Bengali dishes through his wife. “My wife was Bengali from Kolkata. We married in 1972. So I had a lot of good Bengali food. My wife used to make very good chapati (unleavened flatbread)”
Despite his preference for fish, Francis mentions that his doctor has advised against eating prawns.
Consequently, he now eats more vegetables, with his regular meals often consisting of thick lentil soup and eggplant.
Francis speaks with warmth about Bangladeshi cultural traditions — from Pohela Boishakh to village celebrations of nature and seasonal rituals.
He also values the country’s traditional knowledge systems, including the use of wild plants in food and herbal remedies — many of which he says are being forgotten in modern medical practice.
[Writing in English by Sheikh Fariha Bristy]
