Few nations on this planet have experienced annus mirabilis and annus horribilis at thesame time as did the Bangalees in 1971. The culmination of one of the modern history's imposed wars on an unarmed people in victory for that people against all odds is the summit of that wonderful year. Annus horribilis too it surely was because of the planned genocide and mass violation of women perpetrated by the marauding Pakistani regular army. An evil incarnation, the demoralised and debased Pakistani forces in collaboration with their local agents the Razakars and Al-Shams embarked, in the face of defeat, on a killing mission against the best among the Bangalee people with the ulterior motive of decimating the new nation of its gifted minds. Thus the much too heavy price the nation had to pay constitutes the year of curse and horror. Yet the victory the nation achieved on December 16, 1971 was the sweetest because it had to be earned at a mammoth sacrifice.
True, the involvement of the allied Indian army in the war against the occupation Pakistani forces expedited the victory but the Mukti Bahini had already dealt a mortal blow to the enemies. Thus one of the ruthless and repugnant militaries was brought to its knees through a public surrender in the open---the ultimate indignity and humiliation --- at then Ramna Race Course (SuhrwardyUddyan). The army officers and soldiers who did not abide by the Geneva Convention, now prisoners of war, were, however, allowed to enjoy its full benefit under the terms of the instrument of surrender. On earning the victory, the nation now had to prove its worth as a responsible people ---one that has come to rise from the ashes like the mythical phoenix. So at that defining moment of a nation's destination, retribution was not on its mind but definitely trial of the masterminds, if not all the soldiers involved, for the war crimes in the International Court of Justice ICJ) or the International Criminal Court (ICC) was most essential. Today the nation rues the miss. Although belated, the proceedings should be started now.
From its victory over the enemy, the sight had to be set on a host of pressing issues such as putting in place an effective administration, helping the devastated economy to pick up, bringing the refugees back home and feeding the nation with virtually no food reserve. In fact, the Bangalee nation's rewriting the history of armed confrontation now had to be transferred on to the domestic front where challenges were no less daunting than on the war front. Along with this, international intrigues instigated by some big foreign powers were on to undermine the country's victory and independence. All these led, as became evident later on, to coups and counter-coups and retrogressive military and authoritarian rule for a substantial period of time.
However, the time-tested indomitable spirit of the war of liberation triumphed finally like it did on this day 50 years ago. It is the momentum, the self-assuring confidence and will to work wonder gained through the war of independence and the ultimate victory that have been a guiding force for the nation to forge ahead ---much more ahead than Pakistan today. Bangladesh thus triumphs over Pakistan once again in terms of socio-economic progress. The nation has proved the point---the bone of contention over exploitation---to put at rest all the debates on its ability to manage its own affairs. Today Pakistan is in search of Bangladesh panacea for its myriad problems. Let Bangladesh make more and more miracles happen.
