During #Bangladesh fight for independence Pakistani army killed intellectuals as a calculated effort to weaken any freedom struggle, with the worst massacre two days before surrender, in hopes too crush the new country. Today is Intellectual Martyrs Day.

Given this tactic its astounding that post independence @albd1971 would go on to kill left intellectuals, isolate socialist figures like Maulana Bhasani so to align with US foreign policy interests in the region. CIA report 6 months after independence. https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130087-7.pdf

When you come into being through violence and genocide, it profoundly impacts your sense of self. Bangladesh is no different. Close to 50 years later, we are still reckoning with the trauma of our origins. Our trauma impedes our ability to realize our revolutionary promise.

The party of our independence is now an autocratic party suppressing dissent from all sectors of society: press, intellectuals, workers and farmers. I am hopeful because #Bangladesh independence did not come from political parties but from the people.