The bloody war of independence fought by Bangladesh against Pakistan in 1971 leading to the birth of the nation of 165 million, continues to remain a largely unexamined global landmark outside the South Asian continent. The April book break featuring Bangladeshi journalist and author, Monzurul Huq and past FCCJ president, provides a valuable contribution to bring the story to an expanded audience. 

Independence was gained in December 1971 after nine months of fighting. The period took an enormous toll on the people – with three million killed and more than 200,000 women raped and physically tortured. In addition, the economic and physical infrastructure of the country was destroyed needing years to restore.

Huq’s semi-fictional memoir focuses not exclusively on that tragic period, but on the journey that led to that destination. Told in first person, the account invokes some details of the life of a single family during that turbulent period and the narrative takes readers through the broader aspects of the agony of people. The memoir is not a document about the facts of the war. Neither it is a tale of heroism and sacrifice. It rather focuses on the daily life of an ordinary middle-class family in a simple narrative that only hints of what had been going around and beyond the family, and thus creating an atmosphere to give readers the needed imaginative power to understand where the country was heading – the great deluge that unfolded the floodgates of larger happenings for the country and its people. 

At the book break, the author intends to share more in detail on some of these aspects.

Monzurul Huq is a Bangladeshi journalist covering Japan for “Prothom Alo,” the largest circulated daily newspaper of the country with the readership of over a million. He has authored ten books, mostly in Bengali. He is a regular member of FCCJ since 2001 and was elected president of the Club in 2009-2010.

 

1971年に起きたバングラデシュの独立戦争、それが、ある中流家庭の日常をいかに翻弄したか、同国出身のジャーナリスト、モンズルル・ハクがフィクションを交えた回顧録で語る。この戦争では、約300万人が殺され、20万を超える女性がレイプなど暴行を受けたとされる。破壊された国土の復興には、何年もの時間が必要だった。ハクは、同国最大の日刊紙Prothom Aloの記者で、元FCCJ会長。

 

Doors open at 6:00 pm. Dinner is served from 6:15 pm. The presentation starts from 7:15 pm.

Menu: Chef’s Salad/ Grilled Chicken with Sarsa Sauce/ Bread/ Today's Dessert/ Coffee or Tea with One Drink. Book Break charges are 3,000 yen/ 4,000 yen (members/ non-members) per person.

FCCJ members can sign up at the reception desk. Reservations cancelled less than 72 hours in advance will be charged in full. Non-members can reserve at the reception desk by email (front@fccj.or.jp). Payment is in advance till Wednesday, April 19th, 2023. No refund is available unless the event is cancelled by FCCJ.

Online attendance (via Zoom) is available at 550 yen per person. Please indicate the intention to attend online when signing up. Details on how to join online will be sent to individual emails after their reservations are confirmed.

Attendees with food restriction should inform the reception desk (front@fccj.or.jp) three days before the event.

We kindly ask for your cooperation with Covid-19 prevention measures at the reception and to wear a mask in the premises.

Thank you.


(The talk will be in English)

Library, Archives & Workroom Committee