Display of war reports in foreign press

War of Genocide against East Pakistan. 10,000 Reported Slain in Pakistan. War of Genocide against East Pakistanis. Hard Masters from the West Steered Army Takeover! Pakistan’s path to bloodshed. Monsoon season should favour Bengalis in battle of Bangla Desh! Slaughter goes on as E. Pakistan fights for life.

All seem to be headlines? Yes, they are, from different newspaper reports published in the foreign press during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971,

To the elder citizens with memories of the Liberation War, these reports of the genocide against Bangladeshis by the Pakistan army might evoke a sense of nostalgia, along with patriotism, valour, anger and fear that marked the most eventful time in the history of Bangladesh. The post-Liberation War generations also shared the same feelings at the Liberation War Museum, or Muktijuddha Jadughar, in the city’s Segun Bagicha area on August 19.

The Liberation War Museum put about 50 newspaper reports on display at an exhibition in its auditorium, marking the 30th anniversary of the war, and accorded a reception to the foreign journalists who, by covering the war incidents, played an exceptionally influential role in drumming up support for Bangladesh in 1971. The display also includes some reports in Bangla, published from Bangladesh and Kolkata.

After a short introductory note by Akku Chowdhury, the museum’s direction, Arnold Zeitlin, who was the first to send any news piece on the genocide to the foreign press, narrated his experience of the March 25 night in 1971. Zeitlin, who is now Director of the Freedom Forum Asian Centre and Library, based in Hong Kong, was then posted to Rawalpindi in Pakistan as Bureau Chief of the Associated Press.

The exhibition displayed a partial coverage of the war by reporters like Malcolm Browne, Sydney H. Shananberg and Jim Sterba of the New York Times, Peter Hazelhurst of the Times (of London), Clair Hollingworth, David Loshak and Simon Dring of the Daily Telegraph. Martin Woolacoot of the Guardian, Anthony Mascarenhas of the Sunday Times, Harvey Stockwin of the Financial Times and Arnold Zeitlin of the Associated Press.

The exhibition which was previously presented by the Freedom Forum Asian Centre and Library in Hong Kong on March 22 this year, will run till August 25, remaining open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Akkas, Abu Jar M (2001 Aug. 24) Display of war reports in foreign press. Weekly Holiday, 3

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