Conflicted: A History Podcast The 1971 Bangladesh War – Part 3: A Man Named Blood
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Sep 23, 2024 On March 25, 1971, a brutal military crackdown unfolds in East Pakistan, launching a dark chapter in its history. Archer Blood, an American diplomat in Dacca, documents the horrifying violence and attempts to prompt U.S. intervention. Meanwhile, Nixon and Kissinger weigh the political implications of action while secretly pursuing a diplomatic thaw with China. The chilling reality of 'selective genocide' is revealed, sparking internal debates within the U.S. government. The struggle for independence continues as the tension escalates.
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Searchlight Night In Dhaka
- On March 25–26, 1971, Operation Searchlight sent West Pakistani troops into Dhaka, arrested Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and began mass killings.
- The consulate watched the city burn and counted dead students, neighbors, and friends in the aftermath.
University Attack And Massacre
- Pakistani troops attacked Dhaka University dorms, uprooted its banyan tree, and executed students and faculty room by room.
- Survivors later found bloody handprints, pools of blood, and traces of people dragged to die.
Odhir Day's Family Tragedy
- Odhir Day recalled soldiers shooting his brother and pregnant sister and bayoneting his mother during the raid on his family's flat.
- The household was looted for jewelry before more executions followed in nearby flats.
