Dhaka, Oct. 10 -- I first met Toufique Imrose Khalidi in March 2007 after I had given the annual memorial lecture at the Liberation War Museum, then in Segun Bagicha. He was surprised that someone who had been involved in the 1971 Liberation War had been somewhat hidden away for so many years!

For many years I had bottled up and hidden my emotions and feelings related to the genocidal horrors I witnessed in 1971. He helped me to tell my story. He encouraged me to write in detail about the horrors I witnessed in 1971, my experiences in programmes related to poverty alleviation and the rampant corruption I had witnessed in 1971 and under every government since then. He wanted the truth to be written without fear!

Occasionally, when I had ...