Author: Express News Service
Publication: Expressindia.com
Date: August 6, 2007
URL: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=249474
On the day the CPI(M) celebrated the 119th
birth anniversary of one of its founders, Muzaffar Ahmad, exiled Bangladeshi
writer Salam Azad put Marxists from his own country on the dock for their
role in Bangladesh's politics.
The Marxists hobnobbed with Bangladesh's military
rulers and have always backstabbed the country, the writer alleged at a function
organised for the release of Bangladesher Niryatita Hindu Sampraday: Prekkaphat
Muktijuddha (The tortured Hindu community of Bangladesh in the background
of the war of liberation), a book he edited.
The book is a compilation of various write-ups
in Bangladesh's newspapers about torture inflicted upon Hindus during the
Bangladesh war. Eminent economist Amlan Dutta was present to release it.
"The Marxists contributed a lot to military
rule, witnessed twice in Bangladesh. They hobnobbed with the rulers and enjoyed
a good life. During the war of liberation they did not support the war as
China was not in favour of freedom for Bangladesh," said the feisty writer,
who has written such books as Contribution of India in the war of liberation
of Bangladesh and Bhanga Mutt. Incidentally, Bhanga Mutt depicts the plight
of Hindus in Bangladesh and the torture and oppression inflicted on them and
has been banned by the Bangladesh government. The government has also banned
Azad from entering into the country and the writer has been living in exile
in India for the last three years.
"Without the help of the Indian Army,
freedom for Bangladesh would not have been realised. But the tragedy is that
not a single memorial has been raised in Bangladesh in memory of Indian soldiers
who died on our soil," the writer said.
He also praised the Awami League for its role
in the Bangladesh war. "I am not a member of that party, but I must admit
I would vote for that party. It's a party that bore all the pangs of the birth
of the new nation," Azad said.
