IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0372 NIRMUL
Held at: Bishopsgate Institute
Title: Nirmul Committee
Date(s): 1969-2014
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 22 boxes
Name of creator(s): Nirmul Committee, UK branch
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
In 1992 family members of victims of the Bangladesh Liberation War (Bangladesh War of Independence) living in Bangladesh began an unprecedented movement under a campaign called 'Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee' (Committee for Resisting Killers and Collaborators of Bangladesh Liberation War). The Committee has since been renamed the Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971, and is commonly known as the Nirmul Committee. The UK branch of the Nirmul Committee (also known as Bangladesh Anti War Criminal Committee but now known as International Forum for Secular Bangladesh) was also formed in 1992 in solidarity with the campaign in Bangladesh. Its operations were based in the East End of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Both the Bangledesh and UK Committees were formed to seek justice for the victims of Bangladesh Liberation War and to challenge fundamentalist or extremist groups who were seen to have colluded with the occupying Pakistani military (including the Razakars and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami). In addition, the UK branch of the Nirmul Committee would seek to expose suspected collaborators who were residing in the UK after fleeing Bangladesh and to challenge the rise of religious fundamentalism and extremism in the UK. The UK branch also has a remit to advance the education of the public generally, and of young people of Bengali origin in particular. This includes, but is not limited to, Bengali secular culture, history and traditions.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of the Nirmul Committee, including: Newspaper cuttings and publications regarding campaigns and the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1969-2009; Committee papers, 1997-2005; Posters, leaflets and banners regarding campaigns and the Bangladesh Liberation War, 2001-2010; and Photographs of meetings, events and demonstrations, 1992-2009; Press cuttings and other secondary information about fundamentalism, terrorist attacks, human rights violations and war crimes, 1988-2014. (c 1969-2014).
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
NIRMUL/1-48
Conditions governing access:
Please contact the Archivist to access this material.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopying and digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Finding aids:
Copy of handlist available in Library Reading Room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
no further information
Immediate source of acquisition:
The Nirmul Committee papers were deposited at Bishopsgate Institute by Ansar Ahmed Ullah, a member of the Executive Committee. The material was deposited piecemeal from 2011 until 2014. NIRMUL/39-48 were deposited by Ansar Ahmed Ullah in May 2014.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: 10 February 2014-13 May 2014-