1971: Rape and its consequences

 Bina D'Costa

How an Australian doctor tried to help rape victims of Bangladesh


“I was trying to save of what have survived of the children born during the time that the West Pakistani army had Bengali women incarcerated in their commissariats.”– Dr. Geoffrey Davis

Raped and made pregnant by a Pakistani soldier, this teenage girl was leaving her newborn child for adoption at Mother Teresa’s Home.

Dr. Bina D’Costa of Australian National University fulfilled a historic task by interviewing Dr. Geoffrey Davis of Australia on his tasks performed in 1972 in helping rape victims through abortions. The interview was conducted in 2002 and Dr. Davis died in 2008. This is a great service done because Dr. Davis performed a unique task and remains one of the most authentic witnesses of 1971 war’s brutality.

Remembering Sriramshi and Raniganj Bazar massacres

31 August 1971

It was Tuesday. About 20 to 30 members of Pakistan Army on 8 to 9 boats came to the Srairamshi bazar of Jagannathpur thana at about 10 AM. They asked the villagers of Sriramshi and the adjacent ones to gather at the just attached Sriramshi High School building immediately for joining a discussion to form peace committee. Some of the local collaborators also made an announcement. They also said, the measure had been taken to avoid any untoward incident and for ensuring peace in the remote villages. Otherwise, there would be a mass killing, they warned. Accordingly, the villagers about 200 in number with a sincere belief, reached the school ground. A Rajaker leader from the nearby Hobibpur-Ahmed Ali Khan whispered an army man something, resulting in an action by some others with Sten gun and other weapons.

Proud soldier of the soil Sajjad A Zahir

Proud soldier of the soil Sajjad A Zahir, standing first from right, with his co-fighters at Borolekha battlefield of Moulvibazar in October 1971.

Courtesy: Inam Ahmed and Julfikar Ali Manik

Sajjad lay panting at the bed of the shallow gorge. Bullets were flying overhead. He knew he was safe in the dried-up gorge. But for how long?

1971 photo archive

There are a photo archive on pro.corbis.com. This site has more then 70 rare pictures on Bangladesh 1971 freedom fight. Visit pro.corbis.com and search with keyword 'Bangladesh 1971'. All pictures are copyrighted by corbis.com

Soldiers Examine Captured Weapons
Indian Army Officers examine a pile of rifles taken from surrendered Pakistani troops in the military action that separated East Pakistan from West Pakistan, and created the state of Bangladesh. 1971.
Image: © Bettmann/CORBIS
Collection: Bettmann
Standard RM
Photographer: Peter Kingley
Date Photographed: December 18, 1971
Location Information: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Say no to war criminals in polls

The mourning procession commemorating martyred intellectuals paraded through Dhaka University campus with rickshaw-pullers passing by singing the national anthem and flag-hawkers in solemn silence following intellectuals, teachers, students, artists, cultural activists and journalists.

As the procession ended at fine arts institute some rickshaw-pullers and flag-hawkers joined the crowd and raised hands together making a vow to boycott the war criminals in the upcoming election and bring them to justice.

Moments