Claim that Pakistan army killed Bangladeshi intellectuals in 1971 'absurd': CU pro-VC
Chittagong University (CU) Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mohammad Shamim Uddin Khan has termed the claim that the Pakistani army killed Bangladeshi intellectuals in 1971 as "absurd," sparking strong reactions from students.
He made the remarks while speaking at a discussion titled "Free Thought, the Liberation War and the Killing of Intellectuals in 1971", organised by the CU administration at the Vice-Chancellor's Office yesterday (14 December), marking Martyred Intellectuals Day.
"At a time when the Pakistani army was trying to flee the country, the idea that Pakistani soldiers would kill Bangladeshi intellectuals seems completely absurd," he said. "I believe the intellectuals were killed through an international conspiracy aimed at turning this country into a subordinate state."
Referring more broadly to killings during the Liberation War, the pro-VC said the nation does not need "rhetorical statements but factual clarity".
"We want reality. We want to know what truly happened in Bangladesh in 1971 – who were martyred and who carried out the killings. To this day, no comprehensive list of martyrs has been prepared, nor has a list of razakars been finalised. We are repeatedly misleading the nation with statements," he added.
After his comments spread on social media, they drew reactions from students on campus.
Condemning the remarks, Chittagong University Central Students' Union (Cucsu) Assistant General Secretary Ayubur Rahman Taufik said, "We strongly reject with disgust the statement made by Pro-VC Shamim Uddin Khan.
"Such remarks from someone holding a responsible position at a university are unacceptable to the student community. There is ample documentary evidence of who killed and assisted in the killing of intellectuals."
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's CU unit General Secretary Abdullah Al Noman also criticised the statement, saying, "Calling the killing of martyred intellectuals of 1971 'absurd' is a direct insult to history, the Liberation War, and the sacrifices of the martyrs."