Ejaz Ahmed, a Bangladesh native, recounted his family’s experience during the 1971 Bengali independence struggle at an on-campus event Wednesday night.
“We were kept in prison camps for months,” he said. “No one below the age of 12 could roam the streets without being slaughtered. We didn’t know what was happening, and it was terrifying”
The Bengali Students Association held the event to educate guests about Bengali culture and commemorate two holidays that are important to the Bengali people.
Shadhinota Dibosh, celebrated on March 26, is Bangladesh’s independence day. It marks the day in 1971 when Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, declared itself as an independent country. This led to a civil war against West Pakistan, which ruled Bangladesh at the time.
Ekushey February is a more solemn event that extols the Bangla language while also memorializing the many lives lost in the fight for Bangla to become the official language of Bangladesh instead of the then state-imposed Urdu. Police opened fire on protesting students on Feb. 21, 1952, killing four and injuring many more.
These holidays are celebrated with activities such as parades, flag hoisting and speeches given by the top leaders of Bangladesh. They are a time of enjoyment as well as a reflection on the country’s history.
Rasha Howlader, a fifth-year electrical engineering student, said she founded the Bengali Student Association to host educational events such as these.
“It is a question of preserving and spreading the unique Bengali culture,” she said. “It would be disservice to my ancestors and those who lost their lives in protest if I do not learn my culture.”
Ahmed, an active member of the Bengali Association of Southern California, provided an extensive account of his family’s struggle during the 1971 Liberation War at the event. He also said he thinks it is important to learn about and preserve Bengali culture.
“Communication is the key to getting the generations together. The youth must be at the forefront of this change,” Ahmed said.
Shabrin Murshed, a third-year psychobiology student, said she was touched by the event.
“I joined BSA because I wanted to be in closer contact with the rest of my community,” she said. “There needs be greater recognition of the culture and the history associated with it.”