Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.

Bill: 117-hres-239
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
Introduced: 2021-03-16
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

Bangladesh

Commemorative events and holidays

Foreign aid and international relief

Racial and ethnic relations

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution recognizes the people of Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary of their independence and the historical significance of this milestone to those of Bangladeshi heritage. It also recognizes the contributions of Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide in Burma (Myanmar).</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 239 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2021 Ms. Ocasio-Cortez (for herself, Ms. Tlaib , Mr. Gomez , and Mr. Meeks ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.

Whereas the region of Bengal in South Asia is home to an ancient civilization with a rich cultural and literary tradition; Whereas the 1947 partition of India created an East Bengal province, which became part of Pakistan, and in 1954, as part of the One-Unit program, East Bengal became East Pakistan; Whereas, in December 1970, Pakistan held its first election, and despite East Pakistan winning a majority of seats in Parliament, the West Pakistan-based military leadership refused to cede power to the majority and instead imposed martial law in East Pakistan; Whereas, on March 26, 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence from West Pakistan; Whereas, in December 1971, following a nine-month long war that resulted in millions of displaced people and deaths, the Pakistani Army surrendered to Indian and Bangladeshi allied forces; Whereas, on February 14, 1972, the late Senator Edward Kennedy at a speech at Dhaka University said, The struggle of the people of Bangladesh . . . evokes the greatest memories of our past and exemplifies a shared love of freedom with the American people; and Whereas, in August 2017, citing parallels between the displacement of Bengalis during the 1971 war, the Government of Bangladesh accepted more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide in Burma: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the people of Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary of their independence; (2) recognizes the historical significance of this milestone to those of Bangladeshi heritage; (3) recognizes the courage of freedom fighters in the struggle for independence and democracy; (4) expresses support for the principles of democratic governance to which the people of Bangladesh are committed; and (5) recognizes the contributions of Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide in Burma.