Researcher Salek Khokon’s ‘Gaurab o Bedanar Ekattor’ unveiled

The job of a journalist is to prepare the first draft of history, and author and researcher Salek Khokon is composing the history of the glory and grief of 1971 with the same dedication, according to journalist Toufique Imrose Khalidi.

The editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com unveiled Salek Khokon’s new book on the Liberation War titled “Gaurab o Bedanar Ekattor” — 1971 of Glory and Grief — at the office of Bangladesh's first internet news portal in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The book includes the statements of witnesses about the brutality of the Pakistani occupation forces during the Liberation War, which the author has compiled from the grassroots.

Khalidi commended the author for his initiative to compose these poignant events of the great days of Bangladesh's struggle.

"Salek Khokon works without institutional support. This is itself a historic work. While writing the history, he made history himself."

The bdnews24.com chief editor said the author tries to hold and preserve history.

"He observes and records driven by his own need. The job of those of us who do journalism is to write or create the first draft of history; so it's almost the same job and it's the most challenging one."

A series of events captured in the book “Gaurab o Bedanar Ekattor”, published from Kathaprokash, have already been presented to readers by bdnews24.com.

Congratulating the author and wishing him the best, Khalidi said: "We want to support him at our best. May he feel encouraged, may his enthusiasm never falter. Because this kind of thing happens all the time in this country.”

"A lot has happened in the last few months and more will happen. This has happened in the last 15 years. This has happened many times in the past 53 years," he added.

Author Salek Khokon and bdnews24.com journalists were present at the book-launching ceremony.

In the book, the author depicted eight blood-cuddling incidents of the massacre that occurred in 1971, noting the statements of witnesses and relatives of the martyrs who had survived even though their bodies were soaked in the blood of other victims on the battlefield.

Salek Khokon has brought up the glorious days of 1971 by depicting the Liberation War of Air Force Squadron Leader Bir Uttom Liaquat Ali Khan, the role of late president Khandaker Mushtaq Ahmed in the Mujibnagar government, the condition of the refugee camps, and the 1971 of war organiser and politician Kazi Aref Ahmed, alongside the narratives of 10 freedom fighters and a brave woman.

In the author's own words: "As many as 1,300 people were killed in the Sardah Police Academy and bodies were burnt by pouring petrol on them. I worked there for about six months to get the narrative of the witnesses."

Admiring his efforts, Khalidi said: "When this history would be told to the next generation or the generation after that, everyone will remember him as a writer of history."

Salek Khokon dedicated the book to Khalidi and the bdnews24.com editor-in-chief said he felt "honoured" by it.

At that moment, the author said: "Authors have a weak spot. They can't give anything. But the place of dedication is a sensitive point for a writer. I dedicate this book to Toufique Bhai."

In addition to writing and research, Salek Khokon also works as a photographer.

His interest lies in diverse information and research work on the Liberation War, ethnic communities, and the culture of Bangladesh.

He has published 35 books to date.

His book “Juddhodiner Goddo o Pramanno” received the Kali o Kolom award as a fundamental research book based on the Liberation War in 2015 and "71-er Akargrantha" won the BRAC Bank-Samakal Literary Award in 2021.