I’m researching a story at the moment on 1971, pegged to the start of the war crime trials of alleged Pakistani collaborators and the upcoming anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence 40 years ago. In so doing, I’ve come across the following videos on YouTube. Various people have found and posted up some of the original TV news reports. Here are some of the ones I found most interesting:
Pakistani troops launch Operation Searchlight and attack Dhaka Uni (An expelled BBC reporter gives his account of what he saw from the Sheraton’s windows)
Amateur footage that seems to show Pakistani troops executing people at the university (shown on NBC) This is of historical importance, because of course 40 years ago very few people had cameras and very little of the war and the atrocities committed by both sides were actually filmed. There’s a reference to this footage in Sharmila’s Bose’s controversial (and bitter) new book, “Dead Reckoning”, but typically she complains that no-one in Dhaka has a copy of it.
She writes that it was filmed by Professor Nural Ula, who’s apartment overlooked the killing field, and who had, in his opinion, the only amateur, portable camera in the country at the time.
Pakistan’s locally recruited militia (The Razakars) (I think this was Mike Nicholson of ITN)
Rape victims of the Pakistani troops (NBC)
Post-victory violence by Mukti Bahini and the surrender of Pakistani forces (ITN)
The arrest and harsh treatment of alleged collaborators (NBC reporting on the debate still going on today – is the treatment of the alleged war criminals justice or revenge?)
This is very interesting. I am researching the history of Bangladesh myself and have a great deal of interest in the area of the ’71 war. I would be interested to hear more. My own blog ( http://kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com ) looks at life in general in Bangladesh and the connections with life in my home country of England. Feel free to have a look – keep blogging!