16 December 2020

Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai took this photo during the liberation war in 1971
Victory Day

Foreign friends of 1971 in retrospect

As the country celebrates the golden jubilee of the national Victory Day today, The Business Standard revisits the contributions of some of the many foreign friends who directly and indirectly...

Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

Liberation war spirit cannot be confined within boundaries: Fakhrul

“My parents had heard that I died in the Nakol war”
Victory Day

“My parents had heard that I died in the Nakol war”

Farida Begum. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'I was overwhelmed with the thought that my child would be born in a free country'

“When I came back, I saw the body of those two soldiers lying limp in a pool of blood”
Victory Day

“When I came back, I saw the body of those two soldiers lying limp in a pool of blood”

Md Mahfuzul Islam. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'I actually did not expect the war to end so soon'

“Look at me now, I am a rickshaw-van puller”
Victory Day

“Look at me now, I am a rickshaw-van puller”

Nurjahan Begum. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'My father-in-law announced the news of victory on loudspeaker'

“We made sacrifices, we were ready to give up our lives”
Victory Day

“We made sacrifices, we were ready to give up our lives”

Shujeo Shyam. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artists brought out a procession'

“People were coming out on the streets, they had ecstasy in their eyes”
Victory Day

“People were coming out on the streets, they had ecstasy in their eyes”

Selina Hossain. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'We were excited to be liberated, but also saddened for those we had lost'

A K M Kamal Uddin Majumder. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

'I decided to go back to my village and find my parents'