By Rabiul Alam
The history of the people and the land which is Bangladesh today is unique and perhaps strange too. Freedom en joyed by this land and her people was very short compared to the much longer period of occupation and subjugation. After the 55th anniversary of independence of Bangladesh this year, the nation again at the crossroads, wake up to a new reality, old challenge. Prolonged political struggle, blood-drenched war, epochal sacrifices of millions earned us freedom – is that history written on the sands!
March 1971
After the Military regime headed by General Yahya Khan of Pakistan invalidated the election results won by the Bengali population living in then East Pakistan with majority mandate, on March 25, 1971, in the darkness of the night the barbaric military campaign under the banner ‘Operation Searchlight’ ensued triggering shock waves around the world. The regime declared martial law, used military tanks and armored vehicles to massacre thousands of Dhaka University students, prominent academics and intelligentsia and even homeless day labourers sleeping on the footpath of Dhaka city. In the wee hours of March 26 Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was picked up by the military from his residence at road – 32, Dhanmondi, Dhaka and taken to West Pakistan charged with treason! The forces of evil, the Army fanned out across the rural hinterland, burning houses/property and massacring men, wom en, children on sight.
News blackout made it impossible to find out the fate of our family in Dhaka and outlying areas in East Pakistan. Our main source of news was the BBC from London, UK. In Canada news of the ominous events in East Pakistan was trickling in the national news media, the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and CBC.
On March 26, 1971, Toronto, about 20-25 Bengalis from East Pakistan assembled in front of the Pakistan consulate in Toronto to protest the military atrocities and massacre. Media interest was lukewarm. The Pakistan High Commis sion and Pakistani Associations were the main source of information for the Canadians.
On March 27, Toronto, the prestigious Canadian newspaper ‘The Globe and Mail’ interviewed me about the Dhaka massacre, in particular safety of our family and published it on the following day.
There was no unanimity in the East Pakistani (Bangladeshi)group. Some were sceptical about the reality of inde pendence movement, the motives of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and were unsure about the extent of massacres as reported. A few students on scholarships wanted to be neutral. Some were openly sympathetic to the solidarity of Pakistan; some wanted to stay in the background for the safety of their family back home, and fear of job security in Canada.
The daily news releases and vocal media campaign from the Pakistan High Commission were downplaying news about the massacres and branding the students, professionals and political leaders in East Pakistan as miscreants, outlaws, apostates, Indian and foreign agents and misguided individuals out to break up Pakistan. We were outnum bered by Pakistanis and their sympathizers about 15-1 in Toronto.
The Canadian Government and the public were slow in reaction on the reality of the suppression of democracy, mas sacres of unarmed citizens and the brutal kidnapping of the majority party leader & would be Prime minister Banga bandhu Sheikh. Mujibur Rahman for a treason trial in the military court.
The military repressions in East Pakistan were unfolding on the heels of the Quebec separatist movement, Canada's worst national crisis since the confederation was born. The Quebec Provincial minister Pierre LaPorte was kid napped and murdered, a British consul from Montreal was kidnapped. The separatist's ferocity forced the Bourassa government of Quebec to operate out of a bunker for several months. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invoked the infamous war measures act, the first time in Canadian history, to save the country from breaking up.
The government and to a large degree Canadians were less sympathetic to the breakup of Pakistan as sought by the Bengali nationalists in then East Pakistan. Canada's position was largely influenced by the fear of separating Quebec from Canada. Canada was promoting a compromise solution between East and West Pakistan by releasing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and thereby keeping the Commonwealth family in harmony.
Over the next several weeks an action committee of committed Bengali individuals from Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton,London (Ontario) and Montreal coalesced an organised campaign on three fronts: 1.Establish a network with well known and respected mainstream Canadians to help to convey our democratic aspi rations to Canadians.
2. Advocate for the plight of millions of refugees requiring food and shelter urgently, and to stop any arms supplies to the military to halt repression and genocidal activities inside East Pakistan.
3. Secure the immediate release of Bangabandhu Sk. Mujibur Rahman, who was facing execution by a military tribunal in West Pakistan.
I met the CBC anchor Mr. Stanley Burke through the Globe and Mail. Over time he became my mentor, and over time a father figure for our cause. I met him on many occasions, visited his residence seeking advice and guidance on how to develop awareness of our struggle for survival as a people. He was always there when we needed him. Mr. Burke arranged a private session at his residence with MP. Barney Danson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime minister, later to became Minister of Defence. We forcefully highlighted the plight of refugees and, urgent need for government humanitarian aid. Also urged his government to stop shipment of arms to Pakistan. Mr. Dan son undertook to speak to Mitchell Sharp, External Affairs Minister and guided us to contact Mr. Sharp's office in Ottawa. Four members of the action committee was in attendance.
Mr. Burke introduced me to Reverend Scott, the Church of Anglican Primate of Canada and Jack Shea, the head of the Oxfam Canada, they became the consistent and most influential advocate for urgent aid for Bangladeshi (East Pakistani) refugees in India. These two organizations were the consistent and leading advocates to highlight the sufferings of trapped Bengalis under continued military repression inside East Pakistan. Reverend Scott organised an interfaith campaign for humanitarian aid and prayers at Sunday services in all church denomination for the suf ferings of Bengalis, seeking donations for the helpless refugees and starved Bangladeshis inside East Pakistan. Reverend Scott, a father figure of immense stature, now deceased, will continue to illuminate Canadian humanity.
April 1971
By April we embarked on a coherent strategy of rebutting and challenging every media release and misinformation by the Pakistani High Commission. A volunteer team was formed of mainstream Canadians, led by Mrs. Madeline Alam. The volunteers also undertook to speak to community groups, churches and students at school. Letter to the Editor, articles and community news were used to convey our messages to a larger group of Canadians through mainstream popular news media like the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Sun and other print media and community newsletters published from Ottawa and Montreal. Voices from Canadians were proving to have positive effects. Letters can be found in archives of the respective papers.
Stanley Burke's article ""Should Citizens step into the conflict in Pakistan" published in Toronto Star April. 28 challenged the Canadian conscience on humanity and asked how its traditional role can play for useful purpose in this dispute. The debate resonated across Canada, questions were raised at the House of commons, halls of commu nity groups, and churches. It served as a discussion point for our cause.
May 1971
By May, we considerably expanded political networks and began to get traction on refugees and humanitarian is sues, signed a joint fundraising agreement with the help of Oxfam Canada, India-Canada Association and Church groups. The coordinated effort gained a momentum for refugee support aids, govt. of Canada, Red Cross and other NGOs joined in. Millions were raised and channeled through the aid delivery organizations My personal focus was on political contacts and targeted individuals while other members took to academics, NGO institutions and com munity leaders on fund raising, and donations of material reliefs for the refugees. By the end of May our contacts with refugee camps and freedom fighters' logistical groups were established, particularly with Sheikh Fazlul Huq Mani and Aminul Huq Badsha and ABM Musa. The Oxfam, UNICEF and other NGOs were setting up their supply logistics in the area. Oxfam was helpful to maintain communication channels with refugee camps and families. Our mainstream contacts were fact checking and responding to Pakistani propaganda machine.
My contacts in Toronto included Andrew Brewing MP and the foreign affairs critic of the NDP, Stephen Lewis, leader of the opposition to Ontario Provincial Government, Darcy McKew, MLA and provincial cabinet minister and David Lewis leader of the NDP among notable sympathisers.
Dr. Rehman Sobhan, the roving ambassador for Bangladesh was in Toronto on a scheduled trip to Canada to pro mote the official version of the Bangladesh government in exile. On May 1, 1971, Pakistanis tried to disrupt a com munity meeting with Dr. Sobhan which resulted in some minor scuffles, but they failed.
May 5, Stanley Burke hosted a well publicised press conference, hosting Dr. Sobhan at the national press gallery in Ottawa. Details of Dr.Sobhan's remarks were published by the Canadian National media. Following day, the Lead er of opposition Hon. Robert Stanfield, and the NDP critic Andrew Brewin raised the Bangladesh issue in theHouse of Commons and pressed Mitchell Sharp, Foreign Minister to state Canada's commitment to humanitarian aid and whether it was reaching the victims directly and concern about detention of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Dr. Sobhan was accorded a confidential meeting with Mitchell's Sharps Parliamentary secretary the following day.
The Following week, I along with three Action committee members from Ottawa, met with the principal assistant of Foreign Minister Mitchell Sharp to follow up on Dr. Sobhan’s press conference.
In May, we were alerted by our contacts in TUC (Trade Union Congress) in NY that an ocean vessel named Padma just loaded an arms consignment for Pakistan was on the way to Montreal to pick up additional cargo destined for Pakistan. Our compatriots in Montreal and longshore man's union were alerted about the military cargo which may be used against our people in Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. I convened a media briefing in Toronto, sought an assurance from the Canadian government that no Canadian arms would be added to the US supply and urged for an arms embargo. An article in the Toronto Star triggered a flurry of media releases from the US state department con cerning the legality of that arms cargo and clarification by Canadian authorities of it's role in the House of Com mons. Our Montreal compatriots worked tirelessly to convince the long shore union to stop loading Canadian cargo and to delay Padma until Canada's position is clarified.
July 1971
By July, we were informed by the leaders of refugee camps and the logistic coordinators, about some success in engaging the Pakistani army inside East Pakistan and the flow of relief supplies to the camps. We were told to maintain our focus on direct aid for the refugees and continue highlighting the military repression and humanitarian issues inside East Pakistan.
August 1971
In August, we organised a demonstration against Hamidur Rahman Chowdhury at the Pakistan Day celebration in Toronto. He was on a tour justifying the causes leading to martial law and imprisonment of Sheikh Mujibur Rah man. There were about 30-40 demonstrators including some from west Bengal. Scuffles and skirmishes resulted in some people receiving minor injuries including our 11-month-old daughter.
"In August 19-21, Jack Shea of Oxfam Canada in concert with Stanley Burke spearheaded an International Confer ence on catastrophic humanitarian issues in East Pakistan at the University of Toronto Campus chaired by Dr. Hugh Kingsleyside, director general of UN Technical Assistance. The High profile conference brought together about 30 distinguished parliamentarians, Senators, professionals, Nobel laureates /academics, churchmen, military experts and social workers from around the world."
Notable dignitaries included: Senate Foreign Relations committee chair Frank Church designate, retired Indian Ar my Chief of Staff General R N Chowdhury, Dr.Horeman Dahl of Ford Foundation, Dr. John Rohde and Dr. Cornela Rhode of Harvard Uni, Dr. Henna Pavenek, Dr Gustav Pavenek, Dr.Stanley Walport of California University and Homer Jack secretary of Inter Faith Religion for Peace, Canadian notables included. Rev. Scott, Stanley Burke, Bar ney Danson, Andrew Brewin, three Bengalis including Mr.Siddique from Washington and myself.
It was an open forum where Pakistani officials were also invited, unfortunately none participated. The conference was led at a time when world leaders were largely indifferent despite repeated warnings of UN Secretary General of the staggering cost of refugee operations left as a burden for India, serious concern about the reports of certainty of famine in East Pakistan by October and General Yahya Khan's determined action on a secret trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"The conference resulted in a now famous ‘The Toronto Declaration’. The thrust of this Declaration was to ask all concerned people to prevail upon their governments with utmost urgency to urge for both humanitarian and political actions while there is still time".
It included- 1. calling for an immediate end to all killing
2. to terminate all military equipment deliveries to Pakistan
3. to suspend all economic aid to Pakistan
4. to channel all possible resources into a massive emergency program for famine relief in East Pakistan by the UN.
5. to make firm continuing commitment to share economic burden of supporting refugees in India 6. to intervene to save the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
September 1971
The declaration thrust was deliberately non-political to maximise it's humanitarian appeal. The Toronto declaration of concern caused waves not only in the minds of the Canadians but also in the minds of variousworld communities and leaders. In the Senate of the US, Senator Frank Church introduced the resolution transpired out of the Toronto Declaration of Concern obtained unanimous support to print the entire declaration in the Con gressional Record of the 92nd Congress, Sept. 14, 1971.
Senator Frank Church encouraged our group to come to Capitol Hill to lobby foreign relations committee due to meet on Pakistani crises. Three available members of the Action committee including Dr. Huq, of Hamilton, were in Washington during the senate hearing with a productive outcome.
Every national news media in Canada gave full coverage of the declaration and the name of the participants. Out of the ‘Toronto Declaration’ grew the South Asia Committee, mandated to implement the ideas transpired from the three-day conference. Under the leadership of Stanley Burke, the group came up with a concept of a non governmental group initiative entitled “The Proposal for Pakistan Tribunal."
In the ensuing months the daily news of the plight of refugees and the impact on Indian economy, ruthless repres sion of the Pakistani army, and the spectre of a catastrophic human tragedy became a growing concern. Canada and the Commonwealth began to shift away from the viability of the Pakistani position. The issue of Independent Bang ladesh, aid for refugees and the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became an open discussion topic in government decision corridors.
November to December 1971
By November I moved to Halifax., With the help of the local Oxfam director, Mike Fitzsimmons, we organised seminars and discussion sessions on refugee issue and war in East Pakistan. A dialogue session with the Pakistani group escalated into a confrontation and physical scuffles. We continued to work through community and church groups for donations and humanitarian aids. Mr. Heath McQuarrie, Conservative MP from PEI and the leader of opposition Hon. Robert Stanfield MP, from Truro, NS, were active supporters of our cause. They continued to press the government at the House of commons to state Canada's position. I had the opportunity to meet with both leaders in Halifax to update our concerns. Heath McQuarrie joined us as a guest of honour on our first Independent Day celebration at the Dalhousie Campus and hoisted the first National Flag of the Republic of Bangladesh.
In a global community of nations, the interest of the Big Power stake holders often dictates success and failures of legitimacy of a nation of people. In our struggle of independence big power interests did have significant hand for prolonging the misery and suffering of our people. Arms struggle alone cannot always achieve what is fair and just. There are nations of people around the world with just cause, continue to struggle, or fade into the footnotes of his tory for lack of global support. Expatriate Bangladeshis played their part, however limited, achieved by the strength of their convictions, and sustained efforts to win the heart and minds of Canadians.
Post Script:
I was in the new country of Bangladesh in January 1972, at the request of Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni. As a matter of record my travel documents included a letter of introduction from Enayet Karim, Head of Bangladesh Mission Washington with a temporary visa from the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.
I had the opportunity to brief Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni and later Bangabandhu Sheikh.Mujibur Rahman on the con certed activism in Canada during the war of Independence. I was asked to accompany visiting British Minister of International Development Hon. John Stonehouse, and Dr. Rehman Sobhan to a public meeting at the G.K. Power site in Kushtia. I gave a full account of the role played by the Canadian public and leaders on humanitarian issues and how they pressed their government for active and generous support for our people. Minister Stonehouse spoke of the British public support of Bangladeshi struggle for independence and generous donations. Tens of thousands of suffering victims came from villages and towns to hear how people from the far away corners of the globe, felt their plight and sufferings, responded with their open arms of generosity, prayers for the freedom of the people of Bangladesh. The people of the freshly liberated Bangladesh gathered there gave a loud cheer to those who stood by them in their darkest moments!
In August 1973, I was asked to meet with the Prime Minister, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur.Rahman in Ottawa during the Commonwealth Conference. We met at the Holiday Inn. Banga Bandhu spoke about some pressing problems back at home, his vision for the next 5-10 years rebuilding the new country and that he would be seeking from PM Pierre Trudeau to accept 200,000 university graduates as immigrants from Bangladesh. That was the last time I had the privilege to speak to my mentor, the Father of our Nation and the greatest Bangali of all time.