By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Veterans from Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 have called for war trials. Many allege that their fellow countrymen, who sided with Pakistan at the time, are responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. Former commanders have called for many influential politicians to be tried, including Jamaat-e-Islami who is the leader of Bangladesh’s largest party. To this day, Jamaat-e-Islami’s party calls the war a civil war between Pakistanis and deny a war of liberation ever took place.

The veterans rallied under the banner of the Bangladesh Liberation War Sector Commanders’ Forum. Many veterans that spoke told of their anguish and anger over the long delay in bringing the war criminals to justice. Many of those that attended the forum said they had witnessed Pakistani forces and their collaborators within the country commit much of the carnage. Dr. Mustafisa Rahman, a medic in the Bangladeshi forces, said of the collaborators: “They raped our mothers, they killed our brothers and sisters, they burned our houses, they have done everything.”

The war took place over nine months in 1971 and was won quickly with the support of India. Today, the veterans of the war are considered national heroes. During the brief but bloody war, nearly 3 million people lost their lives.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Calls for Bangladesh War Trials – 21 March 2008

Independent Bangladesh – Convention on War Trials March 21 – 19 March 2008

Reuters – Bangladesh Commanders Demand War Crime Trial – 21 March 2008