In 1971, a British couple – Paul Connett and Ellen Connett, refused to sit quietly in their couch and worked to raise public awareness in London about the brutal killings which were going on at the then East Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War.
Fast forward to 2013, the Connetts were felicitated for their selfless contribution back in 1971 by the Bangladesh government as “Friends of Liberation War.”
While sharing fond memories of their work in 1971 at the Liberation War Museum auditorium in Dhaka on Tuesday, they expressed their desire to return to Bangladesh two years from now, to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence.
“We would love to come back to Bangladesh,” they revealed, “And celebrate its 50th year of liberation with the people of this country.”
Emphasizing on women empowerment, and economic development, the couple said that Bangladesh’s development was worthy of using adjectives like booming, also remarking the youths are the future of the country.
They also praised the Bangladesh government for giving shelter to the Rohingya refugees and becoming a host country the way India helped Bengalis people during the war in 1971.
Story of the Connetts
Paul Connett and Ellen Connett were newly married in the early 1970s, when they became proactive in fetching support for the oppressed East Pakistanis, or Bengalis, and formed an office named “Action Bangladesh” in London under their organization, Operation Omega.
They conducted numerous activities relating to “Stop Genocide” and “Recognize Bangladesh” campaign.
To form a public opinion to take action against the Pakistani military and government and recognize Bangladesh, they organized a huge gathering in London’s Trafalgar Square on August 1, 1971.
Apart from that, the couple had also come to Bangladesh afterwards with medical and relief material for the Bengali freedom fighters and people.
Ellen came to India with an ambulance. From there, she risked her life and entered East Pakistan. But she was detained by the Pakistanis in Jessore and was transferred to a jail with other female detainees.
Later, a Pakistani military court sentenced her to two years imprisonment. She was released after the independence.
After moving to New York, she had given birth to a baby boy. The couple named the boy Peter William Mujib, honouring Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, the couple said the world should not forget about Bangladesh and the genocide take took place in 1971.
“We should never forget Bangladesh. This [Liberation War] museum helps reminding the world about the war, sacrifice of the people, and how brutal humans can be, not to mention how beautiful some of them can be,” said Paul Connett.
