Remembering 1971: Bangladesh’s Year of Tragedy and Triumph

So, my Motherland, Bangladesh, turns 50 this week. The 1971 Liberation War, in which Bangladesh eventually won its independence after a brutal armed struggle, is a poignant and significant moment for both the narrative of Bangladesh and Bangladeshis across the globe. For a number of years now I have been exploring, researching and documenting the experiences of British-Bangladeshi communities shaped by the legacy of years of migration, disadvantage and deprivation. As I ponder the ramifications of 1971 for my own sense of identity, compass and belonging, I chart below why this conflict has been often overlooked, even forgotten in some circles, how its impacts are felt both in my research and family history, and how for many Bangladeshis this anniversary is a time for reflection and mixed emotions.