Six Months & Six Days: My Struggles During the Bangladesh War of Liberation - a Memoir

By Amalendu Chatterjee Ph.D.

A chronological discriminatory events in author’s life while growing up in a dictatorial country including his participation and experience for a successful revolution of Bangladesh is articulated. All parents have a dream to leave some legacy for their children. My parents had the dream to leave his ancestral properties for all his 9 children. Seperation of British India into Pakistan and India created a human tragedy of killing, family seperation and hatred between Hindu-Muslims. Our family fell in that trap and we, all siblings, had to migrtae from Bangladesh first to India and then to other parts of the world almost penniless for the safety and security leaving everything behind. As of writing this book, that human tragedy still continues. Unfortunately, migration of minorities is one way from Pakistan and Bangladesh to India not that much from India to either Pakistan or Bangladesh. I wrote this book for my accomplished two children as a gift to be aware of the family tragedy as well as tragedies of million Bangladeshis hoping they may be inspired to make a change in the world for the sake of humanity. Hopefully, they will preserve the ideals and principles I stood for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jun 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665740968

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Copyright © 2023 Amalendu Chatterjee, Ph.D.

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and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-6657-3863-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3862-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-4096-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023905551

Archway Publishing rev. date: 06/02/2023

Acknowledgement

Writing of the book was possible with the encouragement and support from my doctor wife, Arundhati Chatterjee and the constructive editing help from our wonderful doctor sons, Avik Chatterjee, and Ayan Chatterjee.

A Country is not a mere territory; the territory is

only its foundation. The Country is the idea which rises upon

that foundation: it is the sentiment of love, the sense of

fellowship which binds together all

the sons of that territory.

—Giuseppe Mazzini

Yes, Indian independence or freedom from British colonialism is a cause to celebrate. But seventy-five years of partition into Pakistan and India cannot be a celebration. It is a day of remembering human tragedy and killings, family separation, and hatred between Hindus and Muslims. Ironically, such a day reminds me of another fifty years of a genocide orchestrated by Pakistan for another separation—this one into Pakistan and Bangladesh—and a repeat of this same human tragedy. Once again, the results included killings, family separation, and hatred between Hindus and Muslims. The time is ripe for a history lesson now, so as to avoid spiraling into further separations. It is time for the hope that all human and political conflicts can be resolved without weapons—but, rather, through the art of compromise.

—Amalendu Chatterjee, PhD

Contents

Acknowledgement

Preface

Part I

Chapter 1     Beginning The Story

Chapter 2     Glamourous Engineering Profession

Unwritten Instance of Discrimination

Shocking Instance Of Bribe

Betrayal By The Administration

Differentiating Terrorism – India Vs USA

Reviving Ottoman Empire

Prevailing Sad State of Bangladesh

Dramatic First Month

Family Love And Survival Anxiety

Traumatic Nine Months

New Government With Chaotic Administration

Chapter 3     Relentless Efforts To Land In Canada

Part II

Chapter 4     The Turtleback

Chapter 5     Aiming For College

Chapter 6     Underwater Concealment

Chapter 7     My Stronghold

Chapter 8     A Page From Robin Hood

Chapter 9     Turning Turbans

Chapter 10   Thinking Right From Wrong

Part III

Chapter 11   College and Engineering (1961–1967)

Chapter 12   The 1964 Race Riot

Chapter 13   1965 War And Agartala Conspiracy

Chapter 14   Mother’s Worst Fear

Chapter 15   Meeting The Governor

Chapter 16   The Saga of Going Abroad

Chapter 17   Toxic Political Environment And Observation

Chapter 18   Damned At The Dam

Chapter 19   Packing For The Road

Chapter 20   Bhutto’s Manipulation

Chapter 21   Fleeing To India

Chapter 22   My Identity Crisis

Chapter 23   The Liberation

Chapter 24   Operation Chengiz Khan And Name Calling

A Protest, Not A Liberation War.

The Ugly Face Surfaced

Operation Searchlight

Operation Jackpot

Reaction By World Bodies

India’s Inaction Enforcing Secular Constitution

Soldiers Surrendering And Spectacular TV Show

Part IV

Chapter 25   Efforts Going Abroad

Chapter 26   A Secret Trip After Forty-Two Years

Support Of Terrorism in Bangladesh

Chapter 27   Changes In Bangladesh’s National Identity

Barbaric Atrocities Committed By Islamists

Government Complicity On Atrocities

Part V

Chapter 28   Ending My Story

Chapter 29   Different Perspectives

Backstory: Son Of A Doctor

Family Reunion And Survival Experiences

Reintroduction of All Muslim Neighbors

New Work Environment

Friends Feedback As Testimony

My Father’s Death

My Family Story Of 1978

Internal Conflicts In Party (AL)

Serious Footnotes For Government’s Attention

Being Vigilant On Minority Concerns

Memory of February 21

Release of Mujibur Rahman

New Country With Unprecedent Feeling

Indira Gandhi’s Historic Visit To Bangladesh

Revival Of The 1972 Constitution

Pakistan’s Apology

Declaration Of Pakistan’s Atrocities As Genocide

Recommendations With Pros And Cons

The Possibility of A Minority Party

Proportional Representation Of Minorities

Reparation of Minorities – An Ultimatum

Abbreviations

Preface

While recapping my life story, like other thinkers, I thought much about what I could’ve done differently? I’m content with what I have personally achieved, and I know my success came at the cost of defying my parents, but they were happy at the end. As for the country I was born in, Bangladesh called East Pakistan during the time this story was taking place, I have many regrets and sorrows. Perhaps the worst was the assassination of our freedom fighting leader while the perpetrators walked free. I escaped the country, and one could call me selfish. But eventually to my greatest satisfaction, I and my family had done my fair share of struggles for the freedom.

While writing this book, I was constantly facing my inner critics: Who are you tell a story and who would care to read your story? Ultimately, however, it wasn’t even that I had the moral authority of telling at least my own story as I wished but the pure human tragedies that I witnessed compelled me to do so.

This is a history written by one individual on behalf of millions who didn’t have the chance to live to tell the story or are not as privileged as me to write it. Million Hindus migrated to India due to oppressive rules and regulations orchestrated by the Pakistani military since 1947. In contrast, not so many Muslims from India migrated to Pakistan though Pakistan was created for Muslims only leaving more than its own population in India. Because India had a different vision of secularism and democracy – a country for all. Yes, there were many race-related events in India, but all were reactionary and there had never been documented government policies or regulations in support of that. There had never been a consistent and systematic story of the Bangladesh revolution and its aftermath events. Lately, Bangladesh has been using the same playbook Pakistan used against its minorities – brain washing two or three generations of Bangladeshi Muslims against Hindus and India. A depressing tale with the latest look of the society must be told for general awareness and that has been my attempt in the book.

I was just an unknown kid from an island with a big dream and vision with little knowledge of political and social maneuver. I was a kid with analytical mind. I was a kid with full of curiosities. I was a kid with fairness to all as guided by my father doctor. I was a kid well liked in the island, college, and professional life. I was a technocrat with a vision that helped me to write many technical articles including a book, ‘Autonomous and Integrated Parking and Transportation Services’.

I was also proud when I saw the President Biden’s approved infrastructure bill addressed many ideas of the book for a visionary transportation system. I was also behind the implementation of the first North Carolina information Superhighway for distance learning and telemedicine in 1990. The infrastructure of such broadband network connected the whole world during Covid crisis to go virtual for all daily life including education, connecting friends, and running business. It was fulfilling to think where we had been without such worldwide interconnection in the 21st century during covid epidemic when all businesses including education were conducted by Zoom. I was also active in children sports club – Raleigh Swimming Association (RSA). I was a board member of Rosemont Homeowners Association (HOA). I retired in 2017 and became active in politics. I was appointed board member twice by the North Carolina Governor, Mr. Cooper, the board of science, technology, and Innovation (BSTI); and the board of agriculture finance authority (NCAFA). I came to know many state as well as federal USA politicians. Politics, though not always fair, are very important for an influence of your thought in the policy implementation. Figure below shows author’s picture with then senator Biden and North Carolins Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall who was running for the US senate in 2014.

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As for the second or third question, any democratic minded person with the central theme of democracy, ‘The Majority Rules with the Full Protection of the Minority Right’ can get some idea to save the human tragedy. I know it is easier said than done at least for a heterogeneous country like Bangladesh where ethnicity, and religions with the mix of politics play a dominant role. For a homogeneous country like Japan or Vietnam democratic principles are easier to implement with less polarization. But for Bangladesh, it is complex because it is an Islamic country with many other ethnicities. The incident regarding my family and sacrifice of so many in 1971 and later in 1975 to 2008 should touch the heart of many to rethink how Bangladesh could be a model Islamic but democratic country. Some may say it may be lost case, but I never gave up hope. Democratic minded people of the world who want to make a difference may read the book to explore the following:

• Why is a full restoration of the 1972 Bangladesh secular constitution required?

• Creating an opportunity of an ideal model democratic country in an Islamic society.

• Banning all religious political parties to avoid sociopolitical polarization and unnecessary tension.

• Transformation of religious madrasas into schools of science and math.

• Foundation of Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian communities through legislation for fairness.

• Formation of one cabinet level minister positions for minority.

• Proportional representation of minorities in the parliament.

• Holding Pakistan and its 90,000 soldiers accountable who engaged in mass killings of religious minorities.

• Welfare of million Bangladeshis who are still looking for escape due to lack of socio-political justice.

Independence of a country cannot be a cause of celebration unless its people are free of discrimination. At 50 years of independent Bangladesh minorities still feel the emotion of killing, family separation and Hindu-Muslim hates.

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Part I

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Chapter 1

Beginning The Story

P akistan was a byproduct of a single concept, Islam (or Muslim), with no consideration of other human factors, such as ethnic and cultural compositions. Pakistan was a state proud of religion, a quasi-theocracy. Religion aside, the new country was indifferent to a major linguistic reality. The people of East Pakistan spoke Bengali, which had little to do with Urdu.

East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, was part of Pakistan because over 60 percent of its population were Muslims, and close to 40 percent were other ethnic minorities, including Hindus. Besides religion, there were many fundamental differences between East and West Pakistan. Bangladesh after the liberation, had evolved quickly to be a complicated country beyond what the founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, dreamed. Pakistan was a country partitioned by the British to please the Muslim League (ML) leaders. ML’s struggle or effort compared to the Indian Congress party’s Quit India movement was minimum. For Bangladesh, struggle was much harder.

In 1971, I had to take a reactive but quick decision to save my life at the Kaptai hydroelectric dam far away from the island where I was born. I had to leave Kaptai and the job after observing a human massacre. Bengali-speaking Muslim employees were killing Urdu-speaking non-Bengalis, or Biharis, who were accused of being military cooperators before the military appeared at Kaptai. I rationalized my spontaneous decision with simple reason—my family and the opposition to the military crackdown on innocent citizens, especially minorities. There had been military crackdowns before, but the one in 1971 was unreal, as it came in the middle of negotiation for handing over the power to the elected majority, which the public perceived.

A democratic election in 1969 gave a landslide victory to the Awami League (AL) party from East Pakistan, but West Pakistanis defied all election results for the sake of holding power. The Nixon-Kissinger administration had vested interests and orchestrated a sophisticated plan to help Pakistan. Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), also played a significant role in the negotiation, though he lost the election. His claim was that he held majority votes in West Pakistan. In hindsight, my participation in the civil war had a much wider implication, as many things were slowly revealed during and after the initial success. I did not know the conspiracies that brewed in Pakistan’s military administration then, though I know now. I regret that I knew very little of the country I was supposed to love. My parents were also blindfolded by an affection for the country.

Unfortunately, the proper history of Pakistan’s political doctrine and philosophy was never taught. I wish the military administration knew the significance of learning history as explained by Marilyn vos Savant of the Parade Magazine on September 11, 2022:

The chronicle of historical events teaches us—bit by bit by bit—about civilization, human nature, and its consequences. Imagine two men after a centuries-long journey in time. One was asleep all day; the other was awake. The latter witnessed every triumph and calamity, learned where beauty flowered and where it died, watched the greatest and most inglorious fights of good against evil. Which would you choose as a leader? As a friend? Which would you rather be, the man who saw everything or the man who saw nothing? Your answer shows why you should study history.

The education system was more aligned with the religious philosophy. It was advantageous to the military administration to establish more mosques than schools for girls. I could simply leave the country at the beginning of the crackdown when I had an opportunity to become a refugee in India. In that case, I would have been in a safer place. I could have missed all the challenges and life-and-death experiences in the successful civil war. That, by itself, had enough material for my memoir. New information about the war since 1972 adds a different dimension to the book. An overview of Pakistan’s complicated past and events leading to the freedom movement of 1971 would add a better foundation, revealing many secrets of wrongdoings by Muslim League leaders from the beginning. It would also start a different narrative because of the assassination of Bangladesh’s Founding Father. The honeymoon was short-lived. The saddest part was a manipulation of Bangladesh’s founding progressive constitution to a nonsecular and Islamic constitution.

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Chapter 2

Glamourous Engineering Profession

M y engineering job and my first posting in Barisal, a district headquarter in East Pakistan, had many perks and rewards. Exposers to the public outside the office was also glamorous. Finishing the student life and getting a good paying job as an engineer were all gratifying. It would have been more gratifying if I did not have a stigma of being a minority. After the turbulent student life, I thought, I would start a peaceful life in a remote corner of the country. But alas,