Bangladesh, 1971, war crimes trials and control of the narrative: the State or collaborative enterprise? (Bangladesh, 1971, los juicios por crímenes de guerra y el control de la narrativa: ¿el Estado o la empresa colaboracionista?)

Abstract

Bangladesh was born in a violent struggle many label genocide. Few were ever prosecuted. The article considers the issue in terms of competing narratives and the issue of ownership of ‘truth’ and the contribution of images of 1971 to the constitution of Bangladesh. Since 2010 belated war crimes trials have been help for local collaborators; the accused mainly come from Islamic political parties and the verdicts have spurred popular protests resulting in violent confrontations. The trials have been criticised as political trials aimed at eliminating political opposition rather than achieving justice and healing historical wounds. Is this a defining moment for Bangladesh that can change the form of politics – one that breaks the hold of the state over the narrative and ushers in a new form of collaborative enterprise - or is this the occasion for a resurgence of religious sentiments that weakens the secular constitution and increases social instability?