Bangladesh Memories

Pakistan is still not ready to face the reality of the Dhaka tragedy. The major criminals in this are either revered (ZAB) or still alive and influential. I remember some time ago when Jang decided to hold an open court and try Gen. Niazi to see who was responsible for the fall of Dhaka. Everyone found him guilty and blamed him for the debacle. The thought did not even cross the mind of many that maybe the crime was communal, and that there was something basically wrong with the way East Pakistanis were viewed by the West Pakistanis.

What happened had to happen because one group considered itself to be absolutely superior to the other --they did not want to be fellow citizens but new colonial rulers.

I have personally apologized many times to Bangladeshis for a crime that was committed before my time. And everytime I have done so, I have seen their faces light up. I hope that Pakistan, as a state, has enough courage and self-esteem to recognize its repugnant role in this tragedy and deliver an apology to the Bangladeshi nation.

Stirred something within me and I was not even completely aware of the events you described. Excellently written and moving.

Sadly, I fear that most ``West`` Pakistanis still don`t really respect their former eastern counterparts. Even to this day, people look down on Bangladeshis and their achievements. One day Bangladesh may have the last laugh.

What is still amazing to me is to actually consider the results of that fated election in 1971: The Awami League won. West Pakistan`s did not have the political will to accept it. [correct me if I`m wrong].

Ras:

Very moving-- one can sense that it comes from the heart. But the discussion is already moving tangentially.

As Wasiq pointed out, the government should apologise, we should apologise. But why?

Nothing in our attitude has changed. We have not reformed our errant ways: we have hardly shown any remorse. In fact the sharpness acquired by our swords of superiority in East Pakistan has gone on to become even more sharper. Now we are more refined and arrogant in our practices. We show it in our dealings with smaller provinces, with ethnic groups, with religious sectarianism.

I wish I had the tools to show how we have become worse than before.

sadly

Very moving. Very brave of you too, because most Pakistanis are inable to fathom the misery and pain suffered by the Bengalis. The best thing to do in my opinion is to hand over Gen Tikka Khan, Gen Rao Farman Ali, Gen Niazi and others who were the mast planners of Bengali genocide, to the Bengali authorities. Or try all of them in an international court for genocide and crimes against humanity.

In fact, all the army personels who were responsible (again Tikka Khan being one of them)for genocide in Balochistan during the later part of the 70s should also be tried in a court.

Extremely moving, with haunting imagery that made me shiver (`the memories of eating fresh ``Cham Cham`` sweets in Savar / Mingle with the smell of death and gunpowder`).

I wonder how the modern-day Bangladesh citizen sees Pakistan. An official apology from (West) Pakistan is the least that can be done.

Saad

Dear Siddiqui,

I believe the bridges are already there in the hearts of the people, those who fought against the Pakistan army in 1971 and those born afterwards and for whom Pakistan holds a special place in their hearts.