Dutch delegation to Bangladesh to investigate genocide committed by Pakistan | World News

From May 20 to 26, Dutch politician and former MP Harry van Bommel will lead a European delegation to Bangladesh investigating Pakistan’s 1971 genocide.

The mission, an initiative of the European Bangladesh Forum (EBF), will also comprise genocide scientist Anthonie Holslag (VU), political analyst Chris Blackburn, UK EBF Chairman Ansar Ahmed Ullah and Dutch EBF Chairman Bikash Chowdhury Barua.

The mission’s goal was to obtain first-hand information about the genocide committed by the Pakistani Army in Bangladesh during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Missions often meet with Bangladeshi victims, witnesses, genocide researchers, academics, policy makers and government representatives. In addition, the team visited some killing fields and war museums in and around the capital Dhaka and the second largest city Chittagong, according to an official statement.

Mission to Bangladesh takes place at a time when the whole world is focusing on the Bangladesh genocide.

Recently, two members of the U.S. Congress submitted a resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to recognize the crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistani military at the time.

In the United Kingdom, the recognition of the 1971 genocide was also discussed in Parliament. According to van Bommel, head of the delegation, “the Dutch recognition of this genocide is relevant because in 1972, the Netherlands was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh.”

According to the official statement, the fact-finding mission will inform the Dutch government and the House of Representatives of its findings. The Euro-Bangladesh Forum will also organize a meeting on the findings.