Anti-war poster from 1971. Photo: December 2008 / Himal Southasian
Anti-war poster from 1971. Photo: December 2008 / Himal Southasian

Victory’s silence

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Bangladesh declared its birth on 16 December 1971 – now celebrated as Victory Day, a day of reminiscence for citizens of the new nation. But many memories are troubling, especially those of the 'war babies' – children born during or after the War of Liberation, as a result of the often-planned and systematic rape of Bangladeshi women. If we turn back the pages of Bangladesh's history, we can get some rare glimpses of the marginalised; but there is still complete silence when it comes to the babies of war.

The nine months of armed conflict that resulted in East Pakistan breaking away to become an independent Bangladesh is a story of blood and tears. Official and unofficial estimates of deaths range widely between 300,000 and three million. In addition to mass killings, a large number of Bangladeshi women were subjected to sexual violence; the official figure is some 200,000. While Pakistan has not been immune from the trauma of war, its government has repeatedly denied the allegations of genocide in East Pakistan/Bangladesh. Some recent sceptics have also questioned the numbers both of people killed and of women raped.

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Himal Southasian
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