Feature

Faretheewell 'Friend of Bangladesh', but Never Goodbye!

MUCH has been said and much will be said about Senator Edward Kennedy, 'The Lion of the US Senate', who left this 'material world' recently. Much still needs to be said about Senator Edward Kennedy for his contribution to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

In a war that lasted only 266 days, three million people within Bangladesh paid the price of freedom by sacrificing their lives. This human price of freedom alone translates to 7.83 lives per minute. An estimated ten million more paid the price of freedom through dislocation to neighbouring India. Countless more paid the price of freedom through rape and other brutalities of war. In this scenario, the Nixon administration of the USA supported the Pakistan military junta and indirectly approved of the genocides and atrocities that were being committed on innocent Bengalis. The beauty of democracy, however, lies in freedom of speech and the power of the media to influence policy and popular support. It was in this context that Senator Edward Kennedy amongst others truly played the role of a 'Friend of Bangladesh' by first making the people of the USA and then the world aware of what was actually going on in the newly founded State of Bangladesh.

On denial to enter Bangladesh, accompanied by an entourage, Ted visited refugee camps in India in August 1971. It was here that he got first hand experience of the war and what was actually going on inside Bangladesh. By that time, the Concert for Bangladesh had already made an impact on global public opinion. Ted simply added more lyrics to the music of Harrison and Friends. On return to the USA, 'The Lion of the Senate' presented his findings to the US Senate that was later made public through the world print and electronic media. The charisma of being a Kennedy helped Bangladesh in her cause to strive towards freedom.

Ted was one of the first foreign dignitaries to visit free Bangladesh in February 1972. He planted a Banyan Tree in front of the Arts Faculty of Dhaka University where the Pakistani army had chopped down another Banyan Tree on the night of the crackdown on 25 March 1971. That Banyan Tree is a symbol of Ted's Friendship for Bangladesh.

A Nation survives as long as its songs of freedom survive. These songs of freedom have to be revitalised and passed on to the next generation so that the next generation can take the Nation forward by one more step. This is why each Nation recalls and revisits its history. It was very pleasing to see The Liberation War Museum (Muktijuddha Jadughar) pay homage to Senator Edward Kennedy on 2nd September 2009 for his help to Bangladesh in 1971. It was even more pleasing to see the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr James F Moriarty say that the role of the USA during the Liberation War of Bangladesh was a 'democratic mistake'. It is this observation that makes me conclude this little homage to a 'Friend of Bangladesh'. If the USA can admit to its limitations in history, why cannot Bangladesh also follow-suit?

The US economist Alchian once said, a Nation that progresses is a Nation that allows for trial and error. Taking this one step ahead, a Nation that progresses is a Nation that appreciates its strengths and its limitations in history. Senator Edward Kennedy, As a Nation, We Salute you for what you did for us in 1971 when we were badly in need of a friend. Faretheewell 'Friend of Bangladesh', but Never Goodbye!

Bangladesh, it is high time we formally acknowledge and pay tribute to all 'Friends of Bangladesh' in 1971. The Liberation War Museum's initiative is a positive note towards this direction. The onus now lies on this Campus Generation. As a person who was born in the transition between Pakistan and Bangladesh, is it too much to ask that you achieve what we failed to accomplish?

(The writer is a university academic in Bangladesh. asrarul@gmail.com)
Acknowledgement: Akku Chowdhury, Trustee, Liberation War Museum, and Professor Abdul Mannan, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.