New Hope Global has successfully received an award from National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for an exciting project, ‘Showcasing the Stories of Bangladesh Liberation War’, in Birmingham. The project funding was derived from the money raised by National Lottery players. It focuses on recording and exploring the history and heritage of the Independence War of Bangladesh in the South Asian communities in Birmingham.

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The 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh is one of the most remarkable incidents in the history of South Asia. It was a revolution and armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in the then East Pakistan. As a result of the war, a new nation Bangladesh was born. Birmingham shares a proud attachment with this memorable war as the Bangladeshis of this city formed the first East Pakistan Liberation Front in 1969. This vicious war history is unknown to many of the younger generations in Birmingham, particularly of the South Asian communities. To spread the history and heritage of this war, we will hold the screening of war documentaries, arts and crafts workshops to symbolise the exploitation, photo exhibitions, illustrated talks by the freedom fighters, a theatrical performance on war stories and oral history interviews to benefit over 500 beneficiaries.

 

Volunteers will record oral history interviews and document the history and heritage of the independence war of Bangladesh. They will also help translate and transcribe interviews and write a book based on their research. Staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to undertake training on the methods of oral history interviews, archive skills, and graphic design techniques.

 

The outcomes will be to identify and explain the war heritage, to enlighten people about the facts of the conflict, and to create an amicable space for discussion and enhance the friendship between the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. We will publish three project magazines, a book on the project and a documentary on oral history interviews which will be archived in the library of Birmingham.

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Commenting on the award, Mohammed Foiz Uddin MBE, the Chairman of New Hope Birmingham said, ‘Bangladesh has a proud history of independence which came true by the liberation war. I would like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support our project to bring forward the history and heritage of the Bangladesh Liberation War to the communities in Birmingham. I, on behalf of my team at New Hope, would also like to thank the National Lottery players for their help and support to uphold the proud history of Bangladesh Independence in Birmingham communities.”