STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Bangladesh’s Liberation War was not merely a geographical struggle but a reflection of global conscience, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.

The discussion was held on Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman’s book, “Bhalobashay Barano Haat: Muktijuddhe Bideshi Lekhok-Shilpi Bondhu” (Extended Hands of Love: Foreign Writer-Artist Friends in the Liberation War), at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi.

At the event, Matiur Rahman shared stories of global support during the 1971 Liberation War.

“Writers, artists, and religious leaders in Buenos Aires, led by Victoria Ocampo, marched to Argentina’s foreign ministry to express solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during our Liberation War,” he shared.

Sharing his research and investigative experience, Matiur Rahman said he began collecting information on the contributions of foreign friends to the Liberation War in 1988.

His collection encompasses events ranging from Joan Baez’s timeless song to the history of an obscure 11-hour concert held for Bangladesh at the Oval in London during the war.

Matiur Rahman noted that the Pakistan government had opposed the “Concert for Bangladesh” held at Madison Square Garden in New York on August 1, 1971.

Despite resistance from the Nixon administration in the US, George Harrison stood firm in his decision and went ahead with the event, raising $2.1 million for refugees through Unicef.

He also mentioned that Oscar-winning actress Glenda Jackson recited English translations of three Bangla poems in support of Bangladesh at another concert.

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