Birth of Bangladesh as Canada Walks a Diplomatic Tightrope

About the Book

This book focuses on the activities of the government of Canada, Canadian NGOs, Canadian media, and the people of Canada during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. It outlines Canada’s assistance to the victims of the military crackdown, as well as Canada’s mediatory role. Having no strong ties of strategic interests in Pakistan or India, Canada had a sympathetic understanding of the two main parties involved - the military government of President Yahya Khan and the democratic rights of the people of Pakistan represented by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, prime minister-designate. While the Nixon administration openly favoured Pakistan, Canada’s foreign policy constrained Canada. The government was barraged with endless questions: Was the military take-over and crackdown a violation of the democratic rights of the people of Pakistan? Should the process of democracy be upheld under all circumstances? Should President Yahya continue his military reprisals in East Pakistan since the integrity of Pakistan was at stake? What was India’s role? Was India dragged into the situation due to the influx of refugees? What role should Canada play as a senior member of the Commonwealth? There were no clear answers to these questions. The declaration of independence for Bangladesh by the rebel forces and the formation of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh in India had already created another new twist on the complex issue. Throughout the nine long months of the struggle for Bangladesh’s independence, Canada maintained its “neutrality.” Yet, it will be seen how Canada chose not to be a spectator but a player, doing her best while still adhering to its foreign policy of “non-intervention.”

About the Author

Mustafa Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi Canadian, has dedicated his career to academia and public service. His graduate degrees in English Literature, Library and Information Science, and Canadian History have equipped him to make significant contributions. Over his 34-year tenure in Canada’s federal public service, he has worked for several key federal departments and central agencies. His dedication has been recognized with numerous awards, a testament to the value of his contributions. These include the Orleans Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and a pin by Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orleans. A crest from Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean, acknowledges Chowdhury’s “Service to the Bangla community and beyond.” He has also received the Certificate of Appreciation for dedicated service and advice provided to the Commissioner’s Advisory Committee on Visible Minorities (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the Vision Award in Recognition of Contributions to Employment Equity (Human Resources Development Canada), the Outstanding Team Award (Treasury Board Secretariat), the Certificate of Volunteer Appreciation (City of Ottawa), the Volunteer Appreciation Certificate from the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign, the Award of Merit for Volunteer Services from the Ottawa-Carleton Immigrant Services Organization. Chowdhury’s written works have significantly influenced the fields of interracial adoption initiatives, the Liberation War of Bangladesh, equity, and diversity. His first book,’71-er Judhoshishu: Obidito Itihash, was a pioneering work published by Academic Press and Publishers Library, Bangladesh, in 2015. His second book, Picking Up the Pieces: 1971 War Babies’ Odyssey from Bangladesh to Canada, published by Xlibris, Bloomington, Indiana, USA, in 2015, further expanded on this important subject. His third book, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Story of Adoption of 1971 War Babies, published by APPL, Bangladesh, in 2016, continued to make a significant impact, shaping the discourse in these fields.